China planning to tighten regulations for online travel agents

China is proposing major new regulations to tighten up oversight of online travel agency operations.

According to a source cited by Bloomberg, the sweeping changes come after both China and Thailand condemned lax oversight of travel companies following a deadly boat sinking which killed dozens of Chinese tourists near Phuket.

China’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism has drafted new regulations calling for all online travel firms to have liability insurance.

They will also be required to beef up their rescue and emergency plans, improve vetting of in-destination service providers and protect customer personal information.

A Thai minister had blamed the sinking partly on the role of Chinese tour operators for circumventing Thai safety laws.

The new regulations will be the first major legislation aimed specifically at online travel providers.

Before it takes effect a public consultation period will be opened to solicit views, which will happen soon, according to the source.

source: Travel Mole