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defrogCurrently dominating the news in Hong Kong:
BACKGROUND: It’s pretty common for mainland Chinese to come to Hong Kong on a package tour, and most package tours usually involve visits to certain shops to give you as chance to buy gifts and souvenirs – and usually the tour guide gets a commission from the shop for everything you buy.
The problem is that some tour guides are so underpaid that they make most of their money from commissions – and in the case of mainland Chinese tourists, there have been cases in the past of tour guides forcing them to buy something or else kick them off the tour. It’s already allegedly resulted in one death.
The video in question is the first direct evidence of a tourist guide scolding tourists for not buying enough. The video is here, but if you don’t understand Mandarin, an unverified English transcript is here.
Sample spiel:
The Hong Kong Travel Council is not amused, of course, as it's a violation of their rules. And while I don’t think the occurrences are that widespread, that may be partly because mainland Chinese tourists do tend to blow wads of money on stuff (so much so that they’re reputedly the fourth-biggest spenders on international toursim in the world).
Still, there’s no excuse for it. I’ve been on package tours that involve shopping stops (not in HK, mind) and the last thing I need is for my tour guide to lecture me on my spending habits.
That said, for those of you planning to come out here for a vacation, I wouldn’t let that deter you. Just avoid the package tours, or try to not be mainland Chinese, and you should be okay.
Hey big spender,
This is dF
BACKGROUND: It’s pretty common for mainland Chinese to come to Hong Kong on a package tour, and most package tours usually involve visits to certain shops to give you as chance to buy gifts and souvenirs – and usually the tour guide gets a commission from the shop for everything you buy.
The problem is that some tour guides are so underpaid that they make most of their money from commissions – and in the case of mainland Chinese tourists, there have been cases in the past of tour guides forcing them to buy something or else kick them off the tour. It’s already allegedly resulted in one death.
The video in question is the first direct evidence of a tourist guide scolding tourists for not buying enough. The video is here, but if you don’t understand Mandarin, an unverified English transcript is here.
Sample spiel:
How can there be free lunches in this world? Think about it, your tour costs only 1,000 yuan (S$200), which isn't even enough for your air ticket from Guangzhou.
We don't do this for charity. Let me be responsible for charity. I donated 10,500 yuan for Sichuan earthquake victims.
But this is not a charity, and there’s no need to be ‘charitable’. You are on a holiday, you should spend.
It's okay for you to stay poor at home, but when you travel outside, don't be like this.
We are going to be at the watch shop for an hour and a half. I don’t care about your reasons – don’t tell me you have no need (to buy anything).
Don't tell me you don't need (to shop). Later, are you going to say you don't need to eat, and don't need to stay at a hotel?
I will lock up the hotel rooms tonight. You didn't spend enough.
We don't do this for charity. Let me be responsible for charity. I donated 10,500 yuan for Sichuan earthquake victims.
But this is not a charity, and there’s no need to be ‘charitable’. You are on a holiday, you should spend.
It's okay for you to stay poor at home, but when you travel outside, don't be like this.
We are going to be at the watch shop for an hour and a half. I don’t care about your reasons – don’t tell me you have no need (to buy anything).
Don't tell me you don't need (to shop). Later, are you going to say you don't need to eat, and don't need to stay at a hotel?
I will lock up the hotel rooms tonight. You didn't spend enough.
The Hong Kong Travel Council is not amused, of course, as it's a violation of their rules. And while I don’t think the occurrences are that widespread, that may be partly because mainland Chinese tourists do tend to blow wads of money on stuff (so much so that they’re reputedly the fourth-biggest spenders on international toursim in the world).
Still, there’s no excuse for it. I’ve been on package tours that involve shopping stops (not in HK, mind) and the last thing I need is for my tour guide to lecture me on my spending habits.
That said, for those of you planning to come out here for a vacation, I wouldn’t let that deter you. Just avoid the package tours, or try to not be mainland Chinese, and you should be okay.
Hey big spender,
This is dF
