China has drafted sweeping regulations targeting online travel agencies and platforms based in the country after a deadly boating accident involving Chinese tourists in Thailand fueled claims of lax oversight, according to a person familiar with the matter.
The regulation by China’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism would mandate that online travel providers improve rescue and emergency plans, better vet and manage their on-ground service providers, purchase liability insurance, and protect clients’ personal information, said the person, who asked not to be identified discussing internal policy deliberations.
It would represent Beijing’s first concerted attempt to monitor online tourism outfits, which have proliferated as Chinese tourists fan out across the globe.
The ministry did not immediately reply to a faxed request for comment on Friday.
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