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Q: Why are travel tours so ubiquitous?
Of course there are people in every country that prefer a guided tour to the more independent style of travel, but here, it seems like you're considered crazy for even wanting to get away from the maddening crowd. The assumption seems to be, tour or nothing.
What's the deal?
12 years 22 weeks ago in Transport & Travel - China
It's the flock mentality... Just like how they know which restaurants are the best....
If everyone seems to be doing it, then it MUST be the only correct choice.
GuilinRaf:
Adn the way they know a movie is really good. If it sold well, then it was great (Transformers anyone...?).
My GF sister is a tour conductor here in China in domestic and international tours. As she claims (true or not), many Chinese do prefer tours for two main reasons, the experience and knowledge of the guide, and the feeling that by going with a group they are saving money.
Even if I dislike tours, we tried to get in one going to Singapore with her, and she told us she could take her sister but not me. It seems some new regulation forbids foreigners in Chinese tours, reason given was all the factory outlets that are programmed to be visited. Chinese do not mind them, foreigners do complain loudly about these shop visits.
woody:
I have been on a few tours and the last few have cost a little more but have had no factory shopping in their itinerary after I told my partner that I wouldn't go on another and waste so much time being pressured into buying crap (not that we bought anything anyway but I had to put up with the tour guides surly attitude because we didn't). I am no fan of the group tour thing but they have enabled me to see a lot of places for a very reasonable price in the shortest possible time and if I want to see a lot of China it is one of my options.. In fact the tour we did to the Guillin region was great. Small group of 8, really nice people and a great itinerary.
HappyExPat:
If a tour (inside China) has no factory stops programmed into it, then you as a foreigner can join it. But if it does have factory stops, you cna not be a part of it.
