Tour guide punished after encouraging drug trafficking

A tour guide in Yunnan province has had his license revoked for advocating drug trafficking, according to a notification issued by the cultural and tourism bureau of Dali Bai autonomous prefecture in Yunnan province on Sunday.

In a viral video posted on Douyin, a video-sharing platform in China, on July 10 a person who appeared to be a tour guide was lecturing to passengers on a tour bus, mentioning if they have the opportunity to travel to places like Tengchong or Ruili in Yunnan and purchase the "white powder" there, they could sell it in other places at 40, 160 or even 400 times the purchase price.

The tour guide in the video then asked the passengers: "Do you know what to buy now? Spending one or two month's salary in this will ensure you a life without worrying about being short of cash. It's better than buying other things you don't like or already have at home. I'm sure you don't have this at home."

A tourist surnamed Li who was at the scene told Jimu News, a news portal in Hubei province, the scene in the video took place on July 5 during a trip to their hotel. They said the tour guide began talking about profiting from selling drugs in order to encourage shopping among tourists, and made vulgar jokes, which was inappropriate for the crowd on the bus, including the children present. When some passengers expressed their dissatisfaction, they were told they could be kicked off the bus.

After the video created quite a buzz and raised anger among netizens, many called for strict punishment. Officials in Yunnan promptly carried out a investigation, which determined the tour guide surnamed Yin will have his license revoked for his inappropriate behavior.

The notice also said local officials will continue to rectify the local tourism market in order to protect the comfort of tourists in Dali and create a favorable environment for travel.