Guide standards reach tipping point

While travel agencies look into performance-based bonuses for tour guides, anecdotal evidence suggests that efforts to get Chinese tourists to tip could prove tricky.

China's National Tourism Administration released on Aug 3 a guideline on protecting the rights of tour guides in the mainland, actively encouraging companies to introduce reward systems and for customers to pay gratuities.

Tang Bing, a senior official at the administration, said guides currently depend too much on the commission they earn from tourist shopping, which has triggered many disputes. A reward system would help diversify their income, he said.