Furthermore, we invite foreign mass-media to report on China and we take many other constructive steps such as publishing a variety of PR materials. Daily advertising activities abroad are handled by our 16 overseas offices.
Business management
Laws, regulations and industrial standards are in place.
To better watch over the industry, currently in effect are the Regulations on the Management of Travel Agencies, the Provisional Regulations on Travel Service Quality Guarantee Deposits and Compensation, the Regulations on the Management of Travel Service Manager Qualification Attestation and the Provisional Regulations on Travel Accident Insurance Handled by Travel Agencies. We have also standards for grading hotels and tourist boats for domestic waters on a basis of how many stars, as well as safety regulations for tourist areas and facilities, and quality regulations for tourist services, sightseeing buses and guides.
Urban development for tourism
In recent years , China has been promoting a "tourism excellence" campaign for cities in order to further upgrade tourism infrastructure, the state of facilities and the tourism environment, as well as to improve the quality and services of the tourist industry itself. By the end of 1997, 75 cities across the country were candidates. In these were included 4 state-administered cities and other important tourism cities. The CNTA set rules for building and evaluating tourism-oriented urban development, ranked the tourist industry of each city on a tourism business base, and stipulated 18 items and specific standards for the environment, transportation, service facilities and so forth. We plan to select several cities - the first - for their tourism excellence. In any case, we will continue to judge and select cities every year from here on out. For example, Guilin has invested about 500 million RMB to build an airport, bus terminal and highway, and to treat water in the Li River. Our hopes and expectations are high on Guilin becoming a model city for tourism.
Quality Supervision and Examination
In 1997, tourism quality management offices were opened in all provinces, state-administered cities, self-administered areas and areas with tourist industry activities. Our quality inspection system is 3,000 people strong. Of the 1,799 complaints received in 1997, 1,548, or 86% , were dealt with and resolved.
Qualifications, certification and testing for guides
To be a guide, you must pass a certification test for the specific grade. At present, 24 persons have passed the highest level test, 1,139 the next level, 3,134 the next and 14,849 the next.
I have spoken today about the activities and programs that China has undertaken to develop its tourist industry as well as the rewarding success gained therefrom. We are still considerably behind compared to other industrially advanced countries, but we are fully aware of the need for us to press forward with our efforts .
Japan is for China a very important tourism market. Every year, I .6 million Japanese come to China. Japan and China are neighboring countries divided by a narrow strip of water and have been a part of each other's history for more than 2,000 years . Next year, '99 International Horticultural Exposition Kunming, China is planned for Yunnan Province. I hope, from the bottom of my heart, that many of the people from Shiga Prefecture will make over to China in the coming year.
This concludes my presentation, but before I end, Iet me ask you to please watch our promotion video on tourism in China.
Thank you very much.
