According to the Guizhou Administration for Market Regulation, on the afternoon of August 5, the authority held a joint meeting with five major travel-related platform—Trip.com Group, Tongcheng Travel, Douyin, Meituan, and Fliggy. The companies were urged to strictly comply with the Price Law of the People’s Republic of China, the Anti-Monopoly Law, and relevant regulations on clear pricing and the prohibition of price fraud. The goal is to firmly curb pricing misconduct and maintain a fair, orderly, and trustworthy market environment.
Notably, the regulator recently convened a special meeting to address price regulation in the tourism sector. During the meeting, multiple tourism-related industry associations and chambers of commerce across the province jointly issued an initiative calling for fair pricing practices during Guizhou’s peak summer travel season.
Earlier, on July 31, the Guizhou regulator issued a Reminder and Warning Letter on Regulating Accommodation Pricing During the Summer Season" (hereinafter referred to as the “Warning Letter”). The letter called on accommodation providers and third-party platforms to set reasonable room rates, operate with integrity, and strictly follow pricing-related laws and regulations.
The letter also mandates the enforcement of clearly marked pricing with accurate and prominent price tags. Once a booking is confirmed through a third-party platform, providers must not unilaterally cancel the order or raise prices. Platforms are prohibited from using technical means to alter published prices without authorization. Misleading practices such as fabricating original prices, false discounts, or unclear pricing are strictly forbidden.
The Warning Letter outlines penalties for violations:
* Up to RMB 5,000 (~USD 696) for unclear pricing.
* Up to RMB 500,000 (~USD 69,598) for price fraud.
* Up to RMB 3 million (~USD 418,000) for price gouging.
* Up to RMB 5 million (~USD 696,000) for collusion or manipulation of room rates.
