Regulations on Administration of Tour Guides (2017 Revision)

Regulations on Administration of Tour Guides (2017 Revision) Regulations on Administration of Tour Guides (Promulgated by the Order No. 263 of the State Council on May 14, 1999; and amended in accordance with the Decision of the State Council to Amend Certain Administrative Regulations by the Order No. 687 of the State Council on October 7, 2017) Article 1 These Regulations are formulated for the purpose of standardizing the activities of tour guides, safeguarding the lawful rights and interests of tourists and tour guides, and promoting the healthy development of the tourism industry. Article 2 The tour guides referred to in these Regulations mean the persons who have obtained tour guide licenses according to these Regulations and accept travel agency assignments to provide guidance, explanations and interrelated travel services to tourists. Article 3 The State shall institute a unified nationwide qualifying examination system for tour guides. Chinese citizens who have academic attainments of high school or vocational training school or above, who are physically healthy, and who have the basic knowledge and capability of language expressions suitable for a tour guide, may participate in the tour guide qualifying examination. A qualification license for tour guide shall be issued by the tourism administrative department of the State Council or by the tourism administrative department of the people's government of the province, autonomous region or municipality directly under the Central Government, with the authorization of the tourism administrative department of the State Council, to those who have passed the examination. Article 4 Whoever provides guiding services for tourists within the territory of the People's Republic of China must obtain a tour guide license. Only after entering into a labor contract with a travel agency or registering with the relevant tour industry organization may a person holding a tour guide qualification certificate apply for a tour guide license to the tourism administrative department of the people's government of the province, autonomous region, or municipality directly under the Central Government based on the labor contract or the proof of registration. The format and specifications of a tour guide license shall be prescribed by the tourism administrative department of the State Council. Article 5 A tour guide license shall not be issued where any of the following circumstances exits; (1) having no capacity for civil conduct or having limited capacity for civil conduct; (2) suffering from an infectious disease; (3) having received criminal punishment, except for unpremeditated offenses; or (4) having the tour guide license revoked. Article 6 The tourism administrative departments of the people's governments of the provinces, autonomous regions or municipalities directly under the Central Government shall issue the tour guide license within 15 days from the date of receipt of an application to obtain the tour guide license; where any of the circumstances prescribed in Article 5 of these Provisions is found and the tour guide license shall not be issued, the applicant shall be notified in writing. Article 7 All tour guides must continually improve their professional ability and skills. The State implements a graded assessment system for tour guides. The standards and procedures for graded assessment of tour guides are formulated by the tourism administrative department of the State Council. Article 8 When conducting guiding activities, the tour guides sha......