What should I do if the tour guide forces me to shop while traveling?

It is a beautiful thing to take advantage of the long holiday to travel and gather family and friends together! During a group trip, I encountered being forced to shop by travel agencies or tour guides. However, my country’s new tourism law requires that specific shopping venues cannot be designated to force tourists to shop.

When tourists are forced to make purchases, they can request the travel agency to return the goods within 30 days after the end of the trip and advance the return payment.

If the travel agency does not handle returns for them, tourists can apply for mediation to consumer associations, tourism complaint acceptance agencies or relevant mediation organizations; if the two parties reach an arbitration agreement, they can submit it to an arbitration institution for arbitration; they can also file a lawsuit with the People's Court litigation.

Relevant legal provisions:

"Tourism Law"

Article 35 Travel agencies shall not organize tourism activities at unreasonably low prices to deceive tourists. And obtain kickbacks and other improper benefits by arranging shopping or paying for additional travel projects.

Travel agencies that organize and receive tourists are not allowed to designate specific shopping venues and are not allowed to arrange additional paid travel items. However, this is excepted if it is agreed upon by both parties or requested by the tourist and does not affect the itinerary arrangements of other tourists.

In the event of violation of the provisions of the first two paragraphs, tourists have the right to request the travel agency to handle returns and advance the return payment within thirty days after the end of the travel itinerary, or to refund the cost of separately paid travel items.

Article 92 Disputes between tourists and tourism operators can be resolved through the following channels:

(1) Negotiation between the two parties;

(2) Apply for mediation to the consumer association, tourism complaint acceptance agency or relevant mediation organization;

(3) Submit it to an arbitration institution for arbitration according to the arbitration agreement reached with the tourism operator;

(4) File a lawsuit with the People's Court.