Chinese authorities seek to protect country’s image by cracking down of poorly behaved tourists

A China southern airlines plane arrives at the Gold Coast airport. As China’s middle class grows, many more families are embarking on overseas travel. Source: News Limited

AS CHINA continues its ascendancy on the global stage, the ruling party has become increasingly concerned over the country’s PR.

In the latest step to sure-up the nation’s image, authorities are cracking down on Chinese tourists that behave badly while travelling abroad.

State media has reported the National Tourism Administration will keep records of problem tourists and rank them on the severity of their poor behaviour.

The head of the country’s tourism body, Li Jinzao, also announced a new tactic to publicly shame those that engage in conduct unbecoming of the People’s Republic. The Chinese official encouraged other travellers to dob them in by collecting photographic evidence of their bad behaviour.

Those that find themselves on the list will reportedly receive messages when they reach their destination to remind them to behave appropriately. The threat of punishment looms for those unable or unwilling to comply.

China is becoming increasingly protective of their image as the adjust to their role as a global super power. Source: AFP

The new regime comes in the wake of a number of publicised incidents involving Chinese tourists including a young teenager vandalising a 3500-year-old Luxor Temple in Egypt by carving his name into it.

The most recent incident of concern occurred on an Air Asia flight that saw Chinese state media condemn their citizens saying they “behaved like barbarians.”

An incident on an Air Asia flight might have been the latest thing to compel the authorities to crack down on tourist behaviour. Source: AP

China has the fastest growing middle class in the world and as a growing number embark on international holidays, officials wants to ensure they do not do anything embarrassing.

It is not the first time that the Chinese government has been proactive in guiding its populace towards the correct social conduct when outside the country.

In 2013 China’s tourism body disseminated a helpful 64-page Guidebook for “Civilised Tourism” containing useful tips such as, not to pick their noses in public, pee in pools or steal aeroplane life jackets.

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