Penalties will curb tourists' bad behavior

THE NATIONAL TOURISM ADMINISTRATION on Monday issued a regulation that requires any uncivilized behavior by tourists to be put on record for one to two years. Comments:

Of course tourists should be held responsible for their uncivilized behavior. The tourism authorities could issue tickets, while the courts might even send them to prison if they break any laws. However, tourism authorities should preserve the records carefully, and prevent them from being misused - for example, records of uncivilized behavior at tourism sites are humiliating for the perpetrators. Humiliation is against modern values and violates human rights; the authorities holding the records should avoid humiliating anybody even if they have committed a wrong.

Beijing Youth Daily, April 7