The State Council has issued the Several Opinions on Promoting the Reform and Development of the Tourism Industry (the "Opinions"), outlining specific measures for promoting the reform and development of the tourism industry in terms of strengthening the momentum of tourism development, expanding the tourism development space, optimizing the tourism development environment, improving the tourism development policies, etc.
The Opinions require all regions to lift the policy restriction on the cross-provincial establishment of branches and retail departments of travel agencies and encourage travel agencies and vehicle and vessel companies with credible reputation to carry out cross-regional chain operations. Meanwhile, the Opinions emphasize that all regions are required to strictly regulate the ticket prices for entry into the scenic spots within their jurisdictions. The ticket prices for entry into the scenic spots which are constructed making use of public resources such as scenic and historic areas, natural conservation areas, cultural relic protection areas, etc. and the prices for the visiting of sightseeing sites or using of means of transportation which are within such scenic spots but are charged separately shall be subject to the government pricing or government-guided pricing, and shall be strictly controlled from being raised.