Tourism operators offering shoddy New Zealand tours for Chinese visitors are the target of a revised code of conduct aimed at cleaning up the industry.
Tourism New Zealand introduced a code of conduct in November, 2007 aimed at improving the quality of tours for Chinese visitors, one of New Zealand's fastest-growing tourist markets.
Two buses involved in tours around the Queenstown-Milford Sound area were deemed "not fit for service" following inspections by the New Zealand Transport Agency in February, a Tourism New Zealand spokeswoman said.
Operators were required to correct the problems or, for more serious cases, were placed on probation.
Further breaches of the code resulted in their licence being suspended or revoked.
New Zealand was granted Approved Destination Status (ADS) by the Chinese Government in 1999, enabling Chinese travellers to visit as part of a tour group.
Investigation on ADS licence holders for the period ending June 2009 identified 47 breaches of the code, including overpriced and excessive shopping trips, poorly maintained coaches, drivers without an appropriate licence, and false information provided to investigators.
While the majority of breaches were for first-time offences, three companies were suspended and one had its ADS licence revoked.
Two inbound tour operators remain under investigation.
Tourism New Zealand chief executive Kevin Bowler said transport and activities, particularly shopping, would come under increased scrutiny.
Visitors often felt pressured into shopping at overpriced souvenir shops, which was impacting on the satisfaction of Chinese tourists, he said.
"China offers big opportunities for New Zealand tourism, but we need to improve quality, as well as visitor numbers in order to grow its value to New Zealand's economy."
Chinese tourism:
• China has surpassed South Korea and Japan, to become New Zealand's fourth-largest inbound tourism market, with more than 100,000 visitors for the year to April 30.
• Chinese visitors stay an average of three nights in New Zealand, each spending on average $3200.
• Most visitors from China (89%) travel New Zealand with organised group tours.
• Only 17% of Chinese visitors travel beyond New Zealand's main visitor centres.
Source: Tourism New Zealand
