China Warns Tourists About 'Forced Shopping' in Hong Kong

China's National Tourism Administration has put out an advisory for tourists warning them that Hong Kong tour guides might insult them or force them to shop. From the article: "'An undated video clip currently circulating on the Internet shows a Hong Kong tour guide allegedly abusing a group of visitors from the Chinese mainland and forcing them to shop, triggering a backlash from the mainland public,' the Xinhua news agency said Saturday. Budget Chinese tour packages often try to pad out profits by taking tourists to shops which return a percentage of the sales revenue to the agency. The practice is common both in mainland China and on overseas tours offered by Chinese agencies."

Comments

I saw this

[frosty_tsm]

Ages ago when I was in mainland China, every day our tour guides would takes us to at least one or two "friendship" stores geared towards tourists. Late in our trip when we were buying some bigger ticket items, we shopped without the guides so we could negotiate a better deal.

Forced shopping?

[Locke2005]

With my wife, they would have to twist her arm to get her to NOT shop!

good tour hongkong

[tourthailand]

good tour