Tourist police to step up patrols of Yunnan following criticism of traveling environment

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Tourist police brigades have been established across southwest China's Yunnan Province, as part of local authorities' campaign to improve the once-controversial management of tourism there continues.

According to the Public Security Department of Yunnan, the police have been improving public security since March this year, aiming to prevent incidents that threaten visitors' safety, including violence, road accidents, fires and stampedes.

Old Town in Lijiang city, Yunnan Province. /VCG Photo

The police brigades have been set up in 49 counties in 13 cities and prefectures as of the present, and they will help to maintain order during the traveling seasons.

The moves have been launched following several incidents last year that triggered viral online discussions and outraged the Chinese people.

A woman went to Weibo in early January of 2017 to post several photos showing the wounds on her face, saying that she was seriously beaten by several men when she had dinner at a restaurant in Lijiang , a city well known for its beautiful scenery.

Screenshot of the victim's Weibo post about the beating incident. /CGTN Photo‍

The incident became an instant sensation on Chinese social media. Even though the police launched an investigation into the case, loads of complaints and criticism poured online about the poor services received while traveling there.

Aside from the beatings, there were also incidents of forced shopping excursions, scams, menace against tourists and even sexual harassment.

Old Town in Lijiang city, Yunnan Province. /VCG Photo

Statistics show that in February 2017, complaints against Yunnan tour operators accounted for about 34.8 percent of the national total.

The province rolled out tougher regulations in March, which began taking effect on April 15. Under the new rules, shops that used to sell overpriced goods of shoddy quality will be closed down and turned into supermarket-style shops with proper pricing and fall under day-to-day supervision by local tourism and commerce authorities.

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