China’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism has released new regulatory measures for group travel contracts, aiming to strengthen consumer protection and improve service quality across the tourism market.
The Ministry of Culture and Tourism of China has announced a series of regulatory actions affecting the national tourism market, focusing on standardising group travel contracts and enhancing service quality across the sector.
According to official announcements, the Ministry, in cooperation with national market supervision and standardisation authorities, has released the 2026 Model Group Travel Contract, which will enter into force nationwide on 31 March 2026. The updated contract framework is intended to provide clearer definitions of the rights and obligations of travellers and travel agencies, while strengthening consumer protection mechanisms within the group travel segment.
The revised model contract introduces more detailed provisions covering itinerary management, pricing transparency, service content and safety responsibilities. It also clarifies procedures related to contract modifications, cancellations and dispute resolution, aiming to reduce ambiguities that have previously led to consumer complaints and operational inconsistencies among travel agencies.
In parallel, with the updated group travel contract, the Ministry announced the introduction of additional standardised contractual frameworks targeting emerging tourism formats. These include new contracts specifically designed for study tour programmes, reflecting the rapid growth of educational and youth-oriented travel in the domestic market.
The study tour contracts place particular emphasis on safety management, service quality, data protection and the responsibilities of organisers, schools and travel service providers. The Ministry noted that these measures are intended to improve oversight of study tours and ensure that educational travel activities meet defined service and safety standards.
Through these actions, the Ministry aims to further regulate the tourism market, enhance service consistency and promote orderly development as travel demand continues to recover and expand. The announcements form part of broader efforts to modernise tourism governance in China and adapt regulatory frameworks to evolving travel patterns and consumer expectations.