Former tour leader on domestic travel: Public mentality is “spending money makes you king, and any issues are your fault”

▲Lecturer Zhang Wangxing discusses public attitudes toward travel. (Photo/Authorized by Zhang Wangxing)

Text, photos/Zhang Wangxing (Click here for the original article link)

【A penny saved, but many expect ten times the value】
These are some reflections on the news of a tour bus crash.
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If you follow me expecting positive energy, please skip this one. I’ve always said I’m just an ordinary person, and I often have negative emotions too. This time, besides venting, I also hope to share something meaningful.
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For a long time in the past, the tours I led were domestic, known in the trade as guó lǚ (国旅).
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After a tour bus rollover incident, a friend asked for my thoughts, and I could only say I wasn’t surprised. Of course, I still hope the rescue goes smoothly and the injured recover. But I also want to say this won’t be an isolated case—if the mindset doesn’t change, similar things may happen again.

▲On the 13th, a tour bus carrying a cherry blossom viewing group overturned on National Freeway No. 5 southbound.
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The reason I left the tourism industry was that I felt it had no future—especially domestic tourism, which was in terrible shape.What I want to talk about is probably a pain point known to every tour leader and guide. To sum up, these are the three things you’ll see in travel:
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1. Haggling is fine, but endless demands once the trip starts
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For example, if you go to eat steak and find a place cheaper than a fried chicken shop—selling a steak the same size as the ones you usually get for 200, but for just 40—would you dare to eat it?
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I probably wouldn’t. Maybe many people feel the same, worrying about the source and quality. But apply this to domestic travel: a full-day trip with transport, meals, and activities for just 500—would you go?
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Yes, of course you would.
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But you get what you pay for—few people consider where the savings come from. Is the vehicle really safe? Is the food reliable? Or will you just be overcharged elsewhere?
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You don’t think about it—you just complain about the old bus, bad food, and boring attractions. Yet you never consider how little you actually paid. That brings us to the second issue: when everything is already dirt cheap, how do operators make you feel like you’re getting a deal?
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2. Your tip buys my day—wearing you out is my profit
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Originally, an 8-hour day becomes 18 hours—earning more than double. So every itinerary is packed, with dinner added, and maybe even a night market. Leaving at 6 PM and getting home at midnight—how profitable is that?
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The driver reports at 6 AM. He has to wake up by 5 at the latest. And if every group is like this, imagine the driver finishing at 11 PM, spending an hour cleaning the bus, then going home. Even if he sleeps right away, if he has to report again at 6 AM, how much sleep can he get?
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Andmany customers will say, “I don’t care what tour you have tomorrow or what time you start—I paid my tip for today, so you’d better work hard.” But if the bus starts swaying at night, it’s not the wind—it’s the driver zoning out. Cross your fingers you make it home safely.
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3. I make the decisions, but you’re liable for any problems
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Finally, I must say, I used to ask everyone on the tour to wear seatbelts for safety. And many would say they’re uncomfortable and ask not to. You’ll also see people walking around the bus, sitting on armrests chatting in threes, or asking the guide to play games—or even pour tea.
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Of course, nothing goes wrong and everyone’s happy. But if someone gets hurt from not wearing a seatbelt, who do you blame—the guide or yourself? If you ask the attendant for tea and the sudden braking burns you, who’s at fault—you or them? If you have the guide play games and a crash injures them, do you think it’s your fault or theirs?
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Of course, it’s always someone else’s fault. I’m the one spending money, so I’m king, right?

▲Tour group illustration. (Photo by reporter Chang Yizhong)

So nearly a year ago, I decisively left the industry. Aside from helping out once at the end of last year—for a tour operator known for quality groups—I’ve had to turn down many requests from friends or emergency rescues, even when the pay was much better. All I could say was sorry.
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It’s not that I’m being pretentious, but I really know the environment here is terrible. Just like what I saw on a friend’s Facebook the other day: “It’s not that we only sell XX cruises, it’s that you can only afford XX cruises.” Supply and demand should always support each other with mutual respect, but when one side makes unlimited demands while the other can only keep compromising, I think this ecosystem will eventually reach its limit.
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If you’re the one planning the trip and you’re reading this, let me tell you — whether a trip is fun doesn’t depend on how many attractions there are, but on whether you’re in the right mindset to travel. And believe me, when travel professionals see an overly packed itinerary, they can only smile bitterly, because most of your time will be spent on the bus.
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And for evening activities, if it’s not something everyone wants to do, it’s not worth the hassle. Getting a group taxi after checking into the hotel won’t cost much, so why not give the group more freedom and choice? It also gives the driver, tour leader, and guide more time to rest — and offers you a bit more safety in life.
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And if you’re the traveler, just talk to them more. A greeting, a thank you, a bottle of tea, a little snack — these small things can really brighten their day. Maybe it won’t make the trip go any smoother in practice, but you might gain something you didn’t expect.
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And as for what I mentioned — “I want the best quality but also the cheapest price,” “I pay so I’m the boss,” or “No matter what, it’s always the service provider’s fault” — these attitudes aren’t limited to the tourism industry. You’ll see them in all kinds of service sectors.
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Let’s just say the seniors still in the field are an amazing and highly resilient bunch. I’m just a delicate strawberry — all I can do is write this article, hoping to help people see the challenges you face and to remind everyone to show more “respect” for all service industry workers.