Tourist police safeguard visitors in resort city

Tourists enjoy a leisurely experience at the beach in Sanya, Hainan province, Dec 13, 2015. [Photo/IC]

SANYA - On China's southernmost island province of Hainan, the tropical beach resort city of Sanya would be the perfect choice for those wanting to escape the harsh winter in the north were it not for the tourist scams that plague the island.

Restaurants charge exorbitant prices after meals are ordered. Taxi drivers make inconvenient detours for high fares. And local guides make forced stops to earn commission.

But all that is now changing.

In October the city established the country's first tourist police, to win back the hearts of tourists.

Disguised as a tourist, Qin Kaishou together with his fellow policemen went to a seafood restaurant on Youyi Road.

Qin, 26, stared at the waiter who was recording plate numbers of taxis that dropped customers to dine.

"The industry and commerce sectors have reported the restaurant offering kickbacks to taxi drivers for bringing customers. The money can reach up to 40 percent of the bill," he said.

A taxi driver can get up to 20,000 yuan ($2,900) commission every day during peak season, that is a monthly income for a middle manager in many companies, he said.

After three hours, Qin finally saw the restaurant owner giving cash to a taxi driver.

A total of 15 people, including two restaurant owners, eight waiters and two taxi drivers, were caught by Qin's team and over 20,000 yuan in kickbacks was seized.

The case is among over 200 cases that have been closed by the tourist police since they started. More than 250 people have been detained, leading to a 50 percent reduction in complaints from tourists, the city public security bureau said

"In major tourism resorts such as Tianyahaijiao, or the End of the Earth, tourist police will be there in 15 minutes if needed," said Chen Xiaokun, head of the bureau.