"Xiamen Gulangyu Tourist Attractions" forces tourists to spend 20,000 yuan an hour? How many routines are there behind low-cost tour groups?

Introduction to Gulangyu Tourist Attractions in Xiamen A tour guide in Guilin, Guangxi forced tourists to spend 20,000 yuan an hour to attract attention. How many routines are there behind low-cost tour groups? With the increasing popularity of self-help outdoor travel, outdoor clubs, friends clubs and travel clubs are on the road. Frequent use of WeChat group or QQ group to illegally publish tourism products, promote tourism routes, receive citizens of Guilin, Guangxi or a tour guide to force tourists to spend 20,000 yuan per hour to attract attention.

How many routines are there behind low-cost tour groups?

With the increasing popularity of self-help outdoor tourism, outdoor clubs, travel clubs, road trip clubs and so on. Frequently publish tourism products illegally through WeChat group or QQ group, publicize tourism routes, and receive citizens or travel friends.

According to the relevant provisions of the Tourism Law, it is illegal for non-tourism enterprises and individuals to organize tourism activities by themselves.

To completely eradicate the phenomenon of compulsory consumption by low-priced groups, we must rely on the law, increase punishment measures, and increase illegal costs and rights protection benefits.

Our reporter Zhao Li.

"Since you have chosen a group with shopping links, you need to spend. What was your attitude towards me in the shop today? Everyone is fighting guerrilla warfare in it! Now get off the bus and go to the store, and spend 20 thousand an hour. " This sentence comes from a female tour guide in Guilin. "

The female tour guide brought a group organized by a beauty brand. According to the tourists, "a gift of 598 yuan to the travel agency" can go to Guilin from Hunan for free. On the last day of the trip, because the consumption of the jade shop was too high, the consumption of tourists did not meet the "psychological expectation" of the tour guide, so the above scene appeared.

After the compulsory consumption incident was exposed, the "low-priced group" once again attracted attention.

With the increasing popularity of self-help outdoor tourism, it is not uncommon for outdoor clubs, donkey friends clubs, road travel clubs, health care products sales enterprises and some training institutions to release tourism products, publicize tourism routes, and receive citizens or donkey friends to travel illegally. According to the relevant provisions of the Tourism Law, it is illegal for non-tourism enterprises and individuals to organize tourism activities by themselves. However, according to the disclosure of relevant departments, many tourism activities attract consumers to participate in the group tour with "low price" or even "zero group tour".

055-79000 reporters found that many low-priced groups hide a lot of tricks through unannounced visits to such institutions that operate travel agencies without tourism qualifications.

Claiming that it is unprofitable.

In fact, hidden consumption

Recently, the reporter found a large number of QQ groups of related institutions through online search. The format of the group name is simple and consistent: outdoor club. As an outdoor sports enthusiast, the reporter tried to apply to join the QQ group of these outdoor clubs, but the pass rate was extremely low. Many applications for joining the group are "sinking into the sea" after being issued. Some organizations directly rejected the reporter's application for membership. For example, "XX Shanshui Outdoor Club" refused on the grounds that it was not introduced by acquaintances in the group after the reporter applied for membership for many times.

After many attempts, the reporter finally entered a crowd to chat as an ordinary tourist. However, after joining the group, the relevant responsible persons of these institutions will know the information of new group users, such as "who introduced them", "where they came from" and "what activities they have participated in before".

At present, the QQ group of "Beijing XX Outdoor Club" has 1436 people, and it is advertised as an outdoor adventure club with the theme of mountaineering, hiking, camping, grassland cycling, desert crossing, forest adventure, seaside swimming, photography, skiing, food, singing and making friends. The outdoor activities of this club are rich and varied, and most of them are short, generally divided into one-day activities and two-day activities. The price of short-term activities is generally low, many one-day activities are less than 100 yuan, and some two-day activities are around 300 yuan. Take the one-day tour of Kingfisher Valley (located in Yanqing, Beijing) as an example. Activity fee 65 yuan/person, including taxi fare.

Two years ago, Ms. Wang, a Beijing citizen, was dragged into an outdoor tour group, and many low-cost tourist routes were posted in the group. "People who organize tourism say that if they don't make money, they will organize everyone to go out to play." But Ms. Wang found that they "didn't make less money."

She once took part in a trip to Zhangjiakou, which cost less than 300 yuan, but after getting on the bus, hidden expenses began. The organizer will charge each visitor 50 yuan's hard work fee, and each visitor will pay 10 yuan's refreshment fee after the meal.

"Without a formal contract, it is too informal for such a tour group to transfer money or pay by card through WeChat." Ms. Wang said.

Some insiders also revealed to reporters that some outdoor clubs often attract tourists under the banner of non-profit, and the relevant staff of the club make profits through the price difference. Because outdoor clubs don't need to pay deposits, taxes, etc. Like travel agencies, the operation of outdoor clubs is almost "zero cost"

The reporter interviewed Mr. Zhang, a staff member in charge of receiving these clubs in a scenic spot. He said, "The profit of related expenses can basically be divided into four or six with the organizers, and the general travel agency or tour leader takes more commission."

The promoter declared that he was not responsible.

Tourists face greater risks.

Another "Beijing buddy" QQ group information shows that it was established on 2065438+200565438+1October 23rd. At present, it has 2,862 members and organized 44 events. The organizer is "Beijing Wolf Outdoor". The destination is near Shuanglong Gorge, Pofengling and Dongling Mountain in the suburbs of Beijing, and as far away as Wuyuan, Dunhuang and Mohe.

Beijing Wolf Outdoor official website information shows that it is an organization specializing in Beijing (Tianjin) tent rental industry, and its business scope mainly includes Beijing (Tianjin) camping tent rental, cotton sleeping bags, down sleeping bags, walkie-talkies, hiking bags and other outdoor products.

The official website page of Beijing Wolf Outdoor has also set up a special column of "Journey Friends Activities". Open this page, and it shows 70 related travel information released by this organization from June 6, 2008 to June 24, 2008. The reporter clicked on several links, mostly related introductions such as tourist routes, itinerary planning and cost intervals. Occasionally a "disclaimer" will be attached to the introduction. Disclaimer: The promoter of the event is only the contact person of the event, and may not have participated in outdoor team leader training and field rescue. Although they have the obligation to help every participant in the activity, the promoters and team leaders of the activity are not responsible for any damage and consequences caused by participating in the activity. -voluntary registration, at your own risk.

Such a disclaimer can also be found in the activity details of "Beijing Lv You XXX" QQ group.

The reporter found that Janks Outdoor Club also organized outdoor travel activities for many times. A push from the official WeChat account on June 13 showed that the price of the 7-day tour was around 3,000 yuan per person. The tour includes Jiaju Tibetan Village, Hailuogou Glacier, Daocheng Aden, Siguniang Mountain and other popular tourist attractions. The fee includes transportation (driver's accommodation), accommodation (7 nights), tickets (Siguniang Mountain Shuangqiaogou, Jiaju Tibetan Village, Aden Scenic Area and Hailuogou), meals (breakfast in Danba), tour guide service and insurance. At the same time, it is stated that this line only buys travel accident insurance for team members, excluding sickness insurance and property insurance. During the activity, if financial losses occur, the players shall bear them themselves; If economic losses are caused by personal reasons and need to be handled by themselves, a "withdrawal agreement" should be signed.

Another road trip club, Ant go on road trip Club, also mentioned similar terms in its road trip route push on June 65438, 2004. There is only a 500 thousand personal accident insurance in the travel expenses, and nothing else.

The leader of "Beijing XX Club" told the reporter that the price given by his club was "more cost-effective than that given by the travel agency" and an extra accident insurance would be given. When the reporter asked whether the relevant responsibility contract would be signed, the team leader replied, "Without signing the contract, the activities are voluntary."

Free travel is a new trick.

Force shopping to set traps

It is worth noting that related disputes are frequent.

In April 2008, Tian, an outdoor travel enthusiast, took WeChat and the organizer of the group tour to court. This lawsuit originated in the summer of 20 16. He and his friends joined the Happy Friends Self-help WeChat group and went rafting in Daqinggou, Inner Mongolia. During drifting, he accidentally caused an acute compression fracture of the lumbar spine. When he claimed compensation from the tour organizer, he was rejected and sued in court. The court ruled that the organizer was not for profit, and Tian was fully responsible for the injury caused by his sitting position.

2014165438+1October 22nd, Zhang Bingyu went to Jiuxian Mountain for downhill training with the coach of Qingdao Li Qian Sports Leisure Club Co., Ltd. During the descent, the protective rope was untied, and Zhang Bingyu fell from a height of about 30m above the ground and died. I am an employee of a sports company and the leader of this outward bound training. In the outdoor sports group, he met Cao, an outdoor coach temporarily hired by the company for this activity. According to the verdict, both Yu and Cao claimed that they did not have the qualification certificate for downhill activities.

Such organizations and individuals who are not qualified to travel often launch various low-cost tours when operating travel agency business.

According to a Beijing resident who did not want to be named, his parents took part in a low-cost tour organized by the WeChat group of "Outdoor Friends Circle". "Everyone in 50 yuan, Yixing Zhuhai one-day tour. My parents gather at 6: 30 in the morning and come back at 6: 00 in the evening, with big bags and small bags. Bamboo shoots, bamboo chopping boards, activated carbon balls, dish towels, etc. Spend hundreds of dollars to buy back a bunch of useless things. "

The reporter interviewed Mr Zhang, a former tour guide. Mr. Zhang said, "In the tourism industry, low-cost tours basically imply consumption content, which is regarded as a default rule in the industry. However, if you pay enough money reasonably, you may only have some slight guidance and will not force consumption. "

Ma Aiping, a professor at beijing international studies university Tourism Management College, thinks that the tour fee for four days and five nights is 598 yuan, which is obviously low if transportation is included, so the tour itinerary includes three shopping items.

Liu Simin, director of the Tourism Research Institute of the Cultural and Creative Industry Research Center of Beijing Foreign Studies University, believes that there may be many reasons for being lower than the market price and operating costs, but if there are obvious shopping arrangements in the itinerary, it can basically be judged as unreasonable low-cost travel.

In 2000, the National Development and Reform Commission, in conjunction with the public security, industry and commerce, price and other departments, continued to carry out a number of actions to comprehensively rectify the order of the national tourism market and severely investigate and deal with illegal acts such as "unreasonably low-cost travel" and "illegally operating travel agency business". * * * put 2,595 cases on file, confiscated 33.26 million yuan of illegal income and revoked 45 business licenses.

Since then, although some related problems of travel agencies have been contained and standardized to a certain extent, some organizations and individuals who do not have tourism qualifications but operate travel agencies have begun to "make moves". There are also companies tying health care products during the "zero tour fee" tour.

Take Jiufang Pleasure as an example. This company is not qualified to organize tours. In August 2008, a fire broke out in Bailong Hot Spring Leisure Hotel in Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, killing 20 people and injuring 23 others. According to media reports, Jiufang Joy mainly sells health care products for middle-aged and elderly people, and customers who spend more can get travel opportunities rewarded by enterprises.

According to the disclosure of relevant departments in Beijing, many tourism activities use "zero tour fee" as bait to attract the elderly to join the group and hide multiple risks. Law enforcement officials of relevant departments in Beijing said that low-cost tours under the guise of "free tours" and "zero tour fees" are becoming more and more hidden, and the elderly often become the "hardest hit areas" for being deceived.

According to law enforcement officials, at present, the company's "buying health care products for travel" and "buying wealth management for free travel" have become new tricks for criminals. Some companies even cheat in the name of recruiting "tourism experiencers", and applicants encounter compulsive shopping traps when traveling.

"WeChat friends circle, club, car club.