How to become a tour guide?

The "Tour Guide Management Measures" were reviewed and approved at the 17th Director's Office Meeting of the National Tourism Administration on October 16, 2017, and are hereby announced and will come into effect on January 1, 2018.

Measures for the Management of Tour Guides

Chapter 1 General Provisions

Article 1: In order to regulate the professional behavior of tour guides, improve the quality of tour guide services, protect the legitimate rights and interests of tour guides, and promote the To ensure the healthy development of the industry, these measures are formulated in accordance with laws and regulations such as the Tourism Law of the People's Republic of China, the Regulations on the Management of Tour Guides, and the Regulations on Travel Agencies.

Article 2: These Measures shall apply to the licensing, management, guarantee and incentives of tour guides.

Article 3: The state implements a licensing system for the practice of tour guides. Personnel engaged in tour guide activities shall obtain tour guide qualification certificates and tour guide certificates.

The National Tourism Administration has established a tour guide grade assessment system, a tour guide service star rating system and a national tourism supervision service information system. Tourism authorities at all levels use standardized and information-based means to implement dynamic supervision and services for tour guides.

Article 4: Tourism industry organizations shall protect the legitimate rights and interests of tour guides in accordance with the law, promote the professional development of tour guides, and strengthen self-discipline in the tour guide industry.

Travel agencies and other employers should strengthen the management and training of tour guides, protect the legitimate rights and interests of tour guides, and improve the quality of tour guide services.

Tour guides should abide by professional ethics, improve service levels, and consciously maintain the image of the tour guide industry.

Article 5: Support and encourage various social institutions to actively promote advanced models of the tour guide industry, optimize the tour guide practice environment, and promote the healthy and stable development of the tour guide industry.

Chapter 2 Tour Guide Practicing License

Article 6: Only those who have passed the Tour Guide Qualification Examination can obtain the Tour Guide Qualification Certificate.

The National Tourism Administration is responsible for formulating national tour guide qualification examination policies and standards, organizing unified tour guide qualification examinations, and supervising and managing the implementation of tour guide qualification examinations for local tourism authorities at all levels.

The tourism authorities of provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the Central Government are responsible for organizing and implementing the specific work of the tour guide qualification examination within their respective administrative regions.

The specific measures for the management of the National Tour Guide Qualification Examination will be formulated separately by the National Tourism Administration.

Article 7: Persons who have obtained a tour guide qualification certificate and have signed a labor contract with a travel agency or registered with a tourism industry organization may apply to the local tourism authorities to obtain a tour guide certificate through the National Tourism Supervision Service Information System.

Tour guide certificates are in the form of electronic certificates, with format standards formulated by the National Tourism Administration, and managed by tourism authorities at all levels through the National Tourism Supervision Service Information System. The electronic tour guide certificate is stored in the form of electronic data in the tour guide's personal mobile phone and other mobile terminal devices.

Article 8: Persons who register with a tourism industry organization and apply for a tour guide certificate shall submit the following materials to the local tourism industry organization:

(1) ID card;

(2) Tour guide qualification certificate;

(3) Recent photos of myself;

(4) Registration application.

Tourism industry organizations shall not charge registration fees when accepting registration from applicants to obtain tour guide certificates; tourism industry organizations that collect membership dues shall comply with the provisions of the "Social Group Registration Regulations" and other laws and regulations, and shall not use The membership fee is charged in the name of the tour guide license registration fee.

Article 9: If a tour guide obtains a tour guide certificate by signing a labor contract with a travel agency, the term of the labor contract shall be more than one month.

Article 10: To apply for a tour guide certificate, the applicant shall fill in the application information through the National Tourism Supervision Service Information System and submit the following application materials:

(1) Scan of ID card electronic version such as files or digital photos;

(2) Commitment that you do not suffer from infectious diseases;

(3) Commitment that you have no criminal record other than negligent crimes;

(4) Confirmation information of entering into a labor contract with a travel agency in the area where the company usually operates or registering with a tourism industry organization in the area where the company usually operates.

The travel agency or tourism industry organization shall confirm the information specified in item (4) of the preceding paragraph within 5 working days from the date the applicant submits the application.

Article 11: The local tourism authority shall issue a written certificate of acceptance or rejection of the applicant's application for a tour guide certificate in accordance with the law. If relevant materials need to be supplemented or corrected, the applicant shall be informed of all the content that needs to be supplemented and corrected at once within 5 working days from the date of receipt of the application materials; if the applicant is not notified within the time limit, the application will be deemed accepted as of the date of receipt of the materials.

The local tourism authority shall make a decision to approve or disapprove the issuance of a tour guide permit within 10 working days from the date of acceptance of the application. If the application is not approved, the applicant shall be informed of the reasons in writing.

Article 12: A tour guide permit will not be issued under the following circumstances:

(1) Having no capacity for civil conduct or having limited capacity for civil conduct;

(2) Those suffering from Category A, Category B and other infectious diseases that may endanger the health and safety of tourists;

(3) Those who have been criminally punished, except for criminal negligence;

(4) It has not been more than three years since the tour guide license was revoked.

Article 13: The tour guide certificate is valid for 3 years.

If a tour guide needs to continue to practice after the validity period of the tour guide certificate expires, he shall apply to the local tourism authority through the National Tourism Supervision Service Information System within 3 months before the expiration of the validity period, and submit it to Article 10 (2) of these Measures to the materials specified in item (4).

The travel agency or tourism industry organization shall confirm the information within 3 working days from the date the tour guide submits the application. The local tourism authority shall review the information within 5 working days from the date the travel agency or tourism industry organization verifies the information, and change the tour guide certificate information for qualified tour guides.

Article 14: If the labor contract between a tour guide and a travel agency is terminated or terminated, or the registration with the tourism industry organization is cancelled, the tour guide and the travel agency or the tourism industry organization shall start from the date of rescission, termination of the contract or cancellation of registration. Within 5 working days, the information changes will be reported to the tourism authorities through the National Tourism Supervision Service Information System.

Article 15: Tour guides shall submit corresponding materials through the National Tourism Supervision Service Information System within 10 working days from the date of the occurrence of the following circumstances, and apply to change the tour guide certificate information:

(1) If information such as name, ID number, tour guide level and language changes;

(2) After the labor contract concluded with the travel agency is terminated or terminated or the registration with the tourism industry organization is cancelled, within 3 Entering into labor contracts with other travel agencies or registering with other tourism industry organizations within three months;

(3) Changes in the area of ??regular practice;

(4) Other tour guide identity information changes changing.

The travel agency or tourism industry organization shall verify the information changes within 3 working days from the date of receipt of the application. The local tourism authority shall review and confirm the information within 5 working days from the date when the travel agency or tourism industry organization verifies the information.

Article 16: In case of any of the following circumstances, the local tourism authority shall revoke the tour guide certificate:

(1) For applications that are not qualified to apply or do not meet the legal conditions (2) The applicant obtains the tour guide certificate by deception, bribery or other improper means; (3) Other circumstances under which the tour guide certificate can be revoked in accordance with the law.

Article 17: In any of the following circumstances, the local tourism authority shall cancel the tour guide certificate:

(1) The tour guide dies;

( 2) The tour guide certificate has expired without applying for a replacement tour guide certificate;

(3) The tour guide certificate has been revoked or revoked in accordance with the law;

(4) The labor contract entered into between the tour guide and the travel agency After rescission, termination or cancellation of registration by a tourism industry organization, the applicant has not concluded a labor contract with other travel agencies or failed to register with other tourism industry organizations for more than 3 months;

(5) These Measures appear after obtaining a tour guide certificate Article 12 Items (1) to (3) of the circumstances;

(6) Other circumstances in which the tour guide license should be canceled in accordance with the law.

After the tour guide certificate is cancelled, if the tour guide meets the legal practice conditions and needs to continue practicing, he shall reapply to obtain the tour guide certificate in accordance with the law.

Article 18: The regular practice area of ??a tour guide shall be consistent with the provincial administrative region where the travel agency (including travel agency branch) with which the labor contract is concluded or the registered tourism industry organization is located.

If the applicant’s regular practice area is at the location of the travel agency branch, the tourism authority in the location of the travel agency branch may be responsible for the relevant work of applying for the tour guide certificate.

Chapter 3 Tour Guide Practice Management

Article 19: Tour guides who provide services to tourists shall accept the appointment of travel agencies, unless otherwise provided.

Article 20: During the course of practice, tour guides shall carry electronic tour guide certificates, wear tour guide identification badges, and open application software related to tour guide practice.

Tourists have the right to require tour guides to display electronic tour guide certificates and tour guide identification marks.

Article 21: If the tour guide information in the tour guide identity changes, the tour guide shall apply to the local tourism authority to change the tour guide identity within 10 working days from the date the tour guide information changes. The tourism authority shall confirm the replacement within 5 working days from the date of receipt of the application.

If the tour guide’s identity badge is lost or is affected by wear and tear, the tour guide may apply to the local tourism authority to obtain a new one, and the tourism authority shall issue or replace it within 10 working days from the date of receipt of the application.

Article 22: Tour guides shall perform the following duties in the course of their practice:

(1) Consciously safeguard national interests and national dignity;

(2) ) Observe professional ethics, maintain professional image, and provide civilized and honest services;

(3) Provide tour guide services in accordance with the travel contract, and explain knowledge of natural and human resources, customs and habits, religious taboos, laws, regulations, and relevant precautions;

(4) Respect tourists’ personal dignity, religious beliefs, national customs and living habits;

(5) Inform and explain to tourists the norms of civilized behavior and the possibility of uncivilized behavior guide tourists to travel in a healthy and civilized way, and discourage tourists from violating laws and regulations, social ethics, and civilized etiquette;

(6) For matters that may endanger the personal and property safety of tourists, Provide true explanations and clear warnings to tourists, and take necessary measures to prevent hazards.

Article 23: Tour guides shall not engage in the following conduct in the course of their practice:

(1) Arranging for tourists to visit or participate in activities involving pornography, gambling, drugs, etc. that violate our country’s laws and regulations Projects or activities that are in line with social ethics;

(2) Changing the travel itinerary without authorization or refusing to perform the travel contract;

(3) Arranging shopping activities or paying for additional travel items without authorization;

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(4) Concealing facts, providing false information, etc., to induce tourists to participate in shopping activities or pay for additional travel projects against their true wishes;

(5) Beating, abandoning, etc. , restricting freedom of movement, intimidating, insulting, cursing, etc., forcing or disguised forcing tourists to participate in shopping activities, additional payment and other consumption items;

(6) Obtaining shopping venues, additional payment travel items and other related operations Improper benefits given by operators in the name of kickbacks, commissions, capitation fees or incentive fees;

(7) Recommending or arranging unqualified business premises;

(8) Providing tourism services with peddling goods;

(9) Asking for tips from tourists;

(10) Entrusting others to provide tour guide services without the consent of the travel agency;

(10) 1) Other behaviors prescribed by laws and regulations.

Article 24: After a tourism emergency occurs, tour guides shall immediately take the following necessary measures:

(1) Report to the person in charge of the unit if the situation is urgent or When major or particularly major tourism emergencies occur, they can be reported directly to the tourism authorities at or above the county level where the travel agency is located, the safety production supervision and management department, and other relevant departments responsible for safety production supervision and management;

< p>(2) Rescue or assist in rescuing stranded tourists;

(3) According to the requirements of travel agencies, tourism authorities and relevant institutions, adjust or suspend itineraries, stop taking groups to risk areas, and evacuate Risk areas and other hedging measures.

Article 25: Tour guides who are qualified to lead tours shall comply with the provisions of the "Implementation Rules of the Travel Agency Regulations" and other laws, regulations and rules when engaging in tour escorting business.

Travel agencies shall, as required, report the information and changes of their own tour leaders who are qualified to lead tours to the tourism authorities through the National Tourism Supervision Service Information System for filing.

Chapter 4 Guarantees and Incentives for the Practice of Tour Guides

Article 26: During the practice of tour guides, their personal dignity shall be respected, their personal safety shall not be violated, and their legitimate rights and interests shall be protected . Tour guides have the right to reject the following requests from travel agencies and tourists:

(1) Requests that insult their personal dignity;

(2) Requests that violate their professional ethics;

(3) Requirements that are not in compliance with the national customs and habits of our country;

(4) Requirements that may endanger their personal safety;

(5) Other violations of laws, regulations and rules stipulated requirements.

Travel agencies and other employers shall maintain the professional safety of tour guides, provide necessary occupational safety and health conditions, provide professional convenience for female tour guides, and implement special labor protection.

Article 27: If a travel agency commits the following acts, the tour guide has the right to complain and report to the labor administrative department, apply for arbitration, or file a lawsuit with the People's Court:

(1) Failure to comply with the law Entering into a labor contract with the hired tour guide;

(2) Failure to pay labor remuneration, tour guide service fees or social insurance fees to the hired tour guide in accordance with the law;

(3) Requirements Tour guides pay their own social insurance fees;

(4) The remuneration paid to tour guides is lower than the local minimum wage.

If a travel agency requires a tour guide to receive a tour group organized at an unreasonably low price or bear the related expenses for receiving the tour group, the tour guide has the right to complain and report to the tourism authority.

Encourage scenic spots to waive entrance fees for tour guides who hold tour guide certificates and engage in professional activities or professional-related activities.

Article 28: The travel agency shall conclude a labor contract of no less than one month with the tour guide who obtains the tour guide certificate through it, and shall pay the basic salary, group tour subsidy and other labor remuneration, and pay social insurance cost.

If a travel agency temporarily hires a tour guide registered with a tourism industry organization to provide services to tourists, it shall pay the tour guide service fee in full in accordance with the provisions of laws and regulations related to tourism and labor; If there is no labor relationship or personnel relationship, the travel agency shall conclude a labor contract with the travel agency.

Article 29: Travel agencies shall provide tourist passenger vehicles with "special seats for tour guides", and the total number of tourists and tour guides arranged shall not exceed the approved number of passengers of the tourist passenger vehicle.

Tour guides should sit in the "tour guide seats" in tourist vehicles and avoid standing on highways or dangerous sections to explain.

Article 30: The star rating of tour guide service is a comprehensive evaluation of the service level of a tour guide. The star rating indicators include skill level, learning and training experience, years of employment, rewards and punishments, professional experience and social evaluation, etc. constitute. The guide service star rating is automatically generated through the National Tourism Supervision Service Information System based on the star rating index, and is updated annually based on the tour guide's practice.

Tourism authorities, tourism industry organizations, travel agencies and other units should make timely and truthful notes on the rewards and punishments of tour guides they have obtained through the National Tourism Supervision Service Information System.

Article 31: Tourism authorities at all levels should actively organize and carry out tour guide training. The training content should include policies and regulations, production safety, emergency response and civilized services, etc. The training methods may include training courses , special lectures and online training, etc., the cumulative training time per year shall not be less than 24 hours. No fees may be charged to participants for training.

Tourism industry organizations and travel agencies should provide pre-job training and professional training for tour guides, including safety production, job skills, civilized services and civilized guidance.

Tour guides should participate in training on relevant policies and regulations, production safety, emergency response and civilized service content carried out by tourism authorities, tourism industry organizations and travel agencies; tour guides are encouraged to actively participate in other trainings to improve service levels.

Chapter 5 Penalties

Article 32: If a tour guide violates the relevant provisions of these Measures, he shall be dealt with in accordance with the following provisions:

(1) Violation of these Regulations Those stipulated in Article 19 of the Measures shall be punished in accordance with the provisions of Paragraph 2 of Article 102 of the "Tourism Law";

(2) Those who violate the provisions of Paragraph 1 of Article 20 of these Measures shall be punished in accordance with Penalty in accordance with the provisions of Article 21 of the "Regulations on the Management of Tour Guides";

(3) Anyone who violates the provisions of Article 22 (1) of these Measures shall be punished in accordance with the provisions of Article 21 of the "Regulations on the Management of Tour Guides" Penalties stipulated in Article 10;

(4) Anyone who violates Article 23, Item (1) of these Measures shall be punished in accordance with Article 101 of the "Tourism Law";

(5) Violation of Article 23(2) of these Measures shall be punished in accordance with Article 100 of the "Tourism Law";

(6) Violation of Article 23 of these Measures Those stipulated in items (3) to (6) of Article 23 shall be punished in accordance with the provisions of Article 98 of the "Tourism Law";

(7) Violation of Article 23 of these Measures Those stipulated in Item (7) shall be punished in accordance with the provisions of Article 97, Item (2) of the "Tourism Law";

(8) Violation of Article 23, Item (8) of these Measures If stipulated in the regulations, the punishment shall be in accordance with the provisions of Article 23 of the "Regulations on the Management of Tour Guides";

(9) Those who violate the provisions of Article 23 (9) of these Measures shall be punished in accordance with the provisions of the "Tourism Law" Penalties specified in paragraph 3 of Article 102.

Anyone who violates the provisions of Article 3, Paragraph 1 of these Measures and engages in tour guide activities without obtaining a Tour Guide Certificate shall be punished in accordance with the provisions of Article 102, Paragraph 1 of the Tourism Law.

Article 33: If a tour guide violates the provisions of these Measures and commits the following acts, the tourism authority at or above the county level shall order him to make corrections and may impose a fine of not more than 1,000 yuan; if the circumstances are serious, he may be fined 1,000 yuan. Fines of more than 5,000 yuan:

(1) Failure to report information changes on time;

(2) Failure to apply for changes to tour guide certificate information;

( 3) Failure to change the identity of the tour guide;

(4) Failure to take corresponding measures in accordance with Article 24 of these Measures;

(5) Failure to participate in the tourism supervisory meeting as required Training organized by the department;

(6) Concealing relevant information, providing false materials, or refusing to provide true materials reflecting its activities to the tourism administrative department responsible for supervision and inspection;

(7) Providing false materials in the star rating of tour guide services.

If a travel agency or tourism industry organization commits the acts specified in items (1) and (7) of the preceding paragraph, it shall be punished in accordance with the provisions of the preceding paragraph.

Article 34: If an applicant for a tour guide license conceals relevant information or provides false materials to apply for a tour guide qualification certificate or tour guide certificate, the tourism authorities at or above the county level will not accept the application or grant permission. A warning will be given; the applicant shall not apply for the tour guide's license again within one year.

If a tour guide obtains a tour guide qualification certificate or tour guide certificate by improper means such as deception or bribery, in addition to revoking the relevant certificates in accordance with the law, the local tourism authorities may impose a fine of not less than 1,000 yuan but not more than 5,000 yuan; the applicant You may not apply for a tour guide license again within three years.

Article 35: If a tour guide alters, resells, rents or lends the tour guide qualification certificate or tour guide certificate, illegally transfers the tour guide practice license in other forms, or entrusts others to provide tour guide services without authorization, the county The tourism authorities at or above the provincial level shall order corrections and may impose a fine of not less than RMB 2,000 but not more than RMB 10,000.

Article 36: If a travel agency violates the provisions of Paragraph 2 of Article 25 of these Measures and fails to report the tour leader information and changes as required, or the registered tour leader does not have the qualifications to lead a tour, the county shall The tourism authorities at or above the provincial level shall order corrections and may delete the information of tour leaders who do not meet the conditions of tour leaders in the National Tourism Supervision and Service Information System; those who refuse to make corrections may be fined not more than 5,000 yuan.

If tourism industry organizations or travel agencies conceal relevant information or provide false materials when applying for a tour guide license for applicants, the tourism authorities at or above the county level shall order corrections and may impose a fine of not more than 5,000 yuan.

Article 37: For tour guides’ behavior that violates the provisions of these Measures, the tourism authorities at or above the county level shall, in accordance with the relevant provisions on the management of bad information on tourism business services, include it in the management of bad information on tourism business services; if it constitutes a crime , transferred to the public security organs for investigation of criminal liability in accordance with the law.

Article 38: If the tourism authorities and their staff abuse their power, neglect their duties, or engage in malpractice for personal gain while performing tour guide license and management duties, the relevant departments shall order them to make corrections, and those directly responsible shall be punished. The person in charge and other persons directly responsible shall be punished in accordance with the law.

Chapter 6 Supplementary Provisions

Article 39: The meaning of the following terms in these Measures: (1) The local tourism authority refers to the travel agency ( (including travel agency branches), the tourism authorities of the provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the Central Government where the tourism industry organizations are located, or the district-level tourism authorities and county-level tourism authorities entrusted by them;

(2) Tourism industry organizations , refers to the tour guide associations established in accordance with the "Regulations on the Registration and Management of Social Groups", as well as the tour guide branches or tour guide work departments established within social groups in the tourism industry such as travel associations and travel agency associations. The details are determined by the local tourism authorities;

(3) Frequent practice area refers to the provincial administrative region where the tour guide practices continuously or has accumulated practice for 30 days within 3 months; The tour guide’s basic information such as name, ID number, etc. is used as a work sign to facilitate the identification of tourists and law enforcement personnel. The specific standards are formulated by the National Tourism Administration.

Article 40: These Measures shall come into effect on January 1, 2018.

Reference: Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People's Republic of China