Better tourist services needed

The need for travel agencies to raise their rates is understandable after the Tourism Law banned them from including the "compulsory consumption" clause in their package. But if they charge more, then travel agencies have to deliver better services, says an article in Guangzhou Daily. Excerpts:

The Tourism Law, which comes into effect from Oct 1, is good news, because it will protect the rights and interests of tourists, regulate the tourism industry and promote its healthy development. The law bans "compulsory consumption" - a certain extra amount every tourist availing of a travel agency's services has to spend which helps the latter make additional profits.

So it's reasonable for travel agencies to increase their rates to "make up for their loss", as many travel agencies in Zhengzhou, Henan province, have already done for the National Day holidays. But in exchange, travel agencies should accordingly provide better services to tourists.

People have been criticizing travel agencies for forcing tourists to indulge in "compulsory consumption", providing poor services and even cheating tourists. Recently, a tour guide in Beijing threatened to stab some tourists who refused to buy souvenirs. Such incidents have tarnished the image of China's tourism industry.

Therefore, the implementation of Tourism Law should focus on two aspects: to ensure tour guides are qualified enough to deal with tourists by making it mandatory for them to pass an assessment exam, and to strictly regulate travel agencies.

Higher education losing charm

The beginning of a new school year has prompted people to question the justification for the high education expenses in China. Many people believe that college education has lost its charm and usefulness, and want the education system to be reformed immediately, says an article on gmw.cn. Excerpts:

A man in Chengdu, Sichuan province, has reportedly refused to send his daughter to college, although she had been admitted to one, because he believes it would be better for her to start working early. Such news shows some people consider college degrees useless.

According to a recent survey, the cost of university education is rising rapidly, especially in big cities. Beijing tops the list, with Shanghai, Shenzhen and Guangzhou following closely.

No wonder, many people are asking whether it is worth spending exorbitant amounts on their children's higher education. In Chengdu, for example, the cost of college education is at least 80,000 yuan for four years, while the girl in question could earn 80,000 yuan to 100,000 yuan during the same period.

Many parents nowadays consider the huge expenses an unnecessary burden on the family, especially because fewer jobs are on offer for college graduates.

But the above calculations are based on short-term considerations. In the long run, it still makes sense to invest in higher education. The importance of education for today's youth cannot be overstated. So universities and other institutions of higher learning should take measures to restore parents' trust in higher education, and middle and primary schools should make education more equitable by creating more opportunities for migrant workers' children to get proper education.

Moreover, colleges and universities should cultivate the creative spirit. Or else, more wealthy families will choose to send their children abroad for higher education and more poor families may decide not to send their wards to college and harm their intellectual development, which is detrimental to the country's future.

(China Daily USA 09/10/2013 page12)