Beijing (AsiaNews) - Chinese tourists abroad or at home, "are uncivilized and their behavior is damaging the image of the country: talking loudly in public places, jay-walking, spitting and willfully carving characters on items in scenic zones. We must act to change this situation." So says Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang during a government meeting reported by the People's Daily, the official organ of the Communist Party.
The government is preparing to pass a new law on tourism, given that several bilateral agreements with European countries have made it easier for the entry of tourists from both sides. Wang, a former Secretary of Guangdong and known for his reformist positions, pointed out that the behavior of compatriots abroad must be changed to avoid damaging the turnover in the industry.
The "uncivilized behavior" of Chinese tourists "is often criticized by the media and has damaged the image of the entire Chinese people, creating significant negative impacts. The government must take action to improve the situation. Authorities should guide the tourists to behave in civil manner, respecting the religious beliefs and customs of the places they visit and protecting the environment".
The flow of Chinese tourists abroad has skyrocketed in the last decade. Thanks to the enormous economic growth of the country - and the crisis that hit the western nations, first of all the European ones - more than 80 million Chinese citizens visited at least one EU nation in 2012: of these, more than one million chose Italy.
