Taxi drivers, toilets, pollution... Top six complaints about Beijing from foreign tourists
After three consecutive years of declining inbound tourist numbers, China is launching a series of measures to attract overseas travellers, including easing visa arrangements, introducing a tax refund policy and upgrading toilets.
Visits by foreign tourists declined by 2.2 per cent in 2012 to 132 million, then by a further 2.5 per cent in 2013 and 0.45 per cent in 2014, according to the China National Tourism Administration (CNTA).
But tourists still have several complaints. Here, in tourists’ own words, are six of their biggest concerns:
1. TAXI DRIVERS
“I took a taxi from the airport to my hotel and the driver asked for 480 yuan (HK$590). But when I checked with my hotel, I was told that the fee would be no more than 180 yuan.”
Xu Zhiyong, South Korea
“I paid a taxi driver 100 yuan, and then he gave me change of 50 yuan. But I was told the money was fake when I wanted to spend it at a shop.”
Tourist from Slovenia
“It’s not safe to take a taxi in Beijing. There are no seat belts in them.”
Alana Grace, Australia
“Yesterday we were looking for a restaurant, but the taxi driver said he did not know how to get there – even with the address in Mandarin.”
Philippe Robres, Spain
READ MORE: In China, private jets are out and helicopters are in as low altitude tourism takes off
2. POLLUTION
“The biggest concern for me is air pollution. But it was good last week with blue skies anyway.”
Kenneth Young, US
“It was very sunny and clear for the first four days of our stay in Beijing. Today is the only day we can see smog.”
Gino Mandarino, Australia
3. TRAFFIC
“Traffic in Beijing is a nightmare.”
David, Australia
“Traffic is very busy in Beijing. But this is normal in a big city. The subway network is convenient here.”
Philippe Robres, Spain
“Traffic in every big city is exactly the same, congested and slow moving. It does not worry us.”
Gino Mandarino, Australia
4. LANGUAGE
“Language is a problem because people here don’t speak English and we are not able to ask around. The same when you are in the subway.”
Julian, Germany
“Although some people don’t even speak English, they still try to help you.”
Gino Mandarino, Australia
“Navigation is difficult as we cannot find road signs in English.”
Alana Grace, Australia
5. SCAMS
“Yesterday I was here in the Forbidden City and someone wanted to rip me off. They took me to a tea shop where the prices were too high. I just left and that’s not a good experience for a tourist.”
Andrew, Canada
6. TOILETS
“The toilets are bad, but sometimes we have the same problem in our country.”
Eva, Russia
