Hotel hygiene issues need to be investigated, says China's tourism ministry

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China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism (MCT) has urged local tourism departments in Beijing, Shanghai, Fujian, Jiangxi and Guizhou to carry out an investigation along with the country's health authority on the recent hygiene issues at high-end hotels, according to a statement released on Monday.

The ministry has also decided to dispatch an ad hoc investigation team to the hotels which have been criticized for poor hygiene, after some budget hotels were also found to have potential hygiene issues.

Samples took at the hotel show excessive amount of germs. /Screenshot via the iTouchTV

According to a secret video report conducted by the iTouchTV of Guangdong Broadcasting Group, four out of 10 hotels were detected to have excessive amount of germs such as Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus.

The common chain brands named in the video include Home Inn, Super 8, 7 Days Inn and JinJiang Inn. The most unhygienic glasses had more than six times the acceptable level. Towels, sheets and pillows were also tested with high levels of dirty stuff.

A cleaner washes a glass with a used towel in the disclosed video. /Weibo Photo

In early November, a user on Chinese social media platform Weibo posted a recording showing cleaners at more than a dozen five-star hotels using dirty towels to clean toilets, cups and showers, sparking outrage on Chinese social media and drawing the attention of the ministry.

Following the incident, fines have been issued to some, while others have been placed under strict supervision by local authorities. Several major international chains apologized and promised to strengthen staff training and supervision.

A hotel staff puts a clean sheet on the bed at a five-star hotel in Beijing. /VCG Photo

However, the frenzy has again affected people's faith in China's hotel management.

“I'm considering taking my own sheets, sleeping bags, kettles and bathrobes on my next trip,” said a user on Weibo.

Toiletries at a hotel /VCG Photo

In December 2017, three well-known hotels in the northeastern Chinese city of Harbin were penalized for basic hygiene checks after cleaning staff were filmed using the same brush to clean lavatories, wash basins and even crockery.

“All hotels are supposed to carry out self-examination and rectification based on the problems in their management and services, improve their credibility and personnel management,” the ministry requested in Monday's statement.