Resorts in the frame as tourist photography services boom

Dedicated spaces

To offer high-quality travel photography products with transparent prices, many popular tourist attractions have started building their own dedicated spaces.

"We're looking to cooperate with professional travel photographers, and we are planning internet-famous sites at our hotel for customers to snap such pictures," said Fu Guiyou, account director of the Hainan Universal QiziBay Beach Hotel in the island's Changjiang Li autonomous county.

Meanwhile, back in Dalian, a professional base for travel photography and wedding pictures is being built on the beach at the Jinshitan National Tourism Resort.

"Relying on the resort's unique natural resources, we will create professional backgrounds and operate according to the standards of 5A scenic spots for travel photography services," said Yang Xiaohai, general manager of Hi Coast, a marine cultural tourism project.

"We plan to realize the interaction between Hainan and Dalian to attract customers to Hainan in winter and Dalian in summer," said Yang, who is also CEO of Hainan Ningsheng Tourism Group.

Elsewhere, Huang Hui, 32, a regular visitor to the Universal Beijing Resort, praised the new rules introduced by the park earlier in April that prevent access of unauthorized commercial photographers who offer tourists photo shoot services at the facility.

"I've had very good visiting experiences there. But then, I found that the amusement park had almost become a photo shoot studio, with many visitors posing in front of photographers at some scenic spots, especially the Wizarding World of Harry Potter," Huang said. "In some areas, the pathways are narrow and their posing just blocked the other visitors."

On April 3, sources at the resort confirmed that visitors can take photos with their own cameras and phones, providing they are not for commercial purposes. "Photography, videotaping, audio recording or livestreaming of any kind are strictly prohibited, except for personal and noncommercial purposes," according to the park's rules.

In fact, other major theme parks have banned unauthorized freelance photo shoot services in order to protect copyright as more visitors, especially young people, are choosing to hire photographers to record the best moments of their trips.

Du Juan in Beijing contributed to this story.