“At present, special tourism in Xinjiang is developing very well, with more and more ‘travel enthusiasts’ and a growing variety of adventure tourism activities. However, the organization and operation of some activities urgently need to be standardized, and an access system for outdoor exploration (special tourism) team leaders should be established as soon as possible,” said Deng Hong, a member of the Autonomous Region Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, to reporters on the 25th.
Xinjiang is hailed as a paradise for special tourism. Its landscapes — including high mountains and glaciers, deserts and plateaus, famous rivers and lakes, Gobi oases, and forests and grasslands — are highly suitable for special tourism, making it one of the best choices for developing this sector. Special tourism emerged in Xinjiang in the 1990s. According to incomplete statistics, currently over 100,000 people participate in special tourism activities in Xinjiang each year, with domestic tourists accounting for 70%. Some travel agencies have also begun to enter the special tourism business.
Committee member Deng Hong cannot be considered a seasoned “travel enthusiast,” participating in outdoor activities only five or six times a year, but he has noticed quite a few issues.
Currently, most outdoor activities are organized through posts on websites or QQ groups. The organizers or leaders of these activities are called “team leaders” or “head donkeys.” Among them, 90% lack formal qualifications, yet the activities charge fees for registration, accommodation, fuel, guides, and more, ranging from several dozen to several hundred yuan. Many “team leaders” or “head donkeys” work regular jobs and organize outings for groups ranging from a dozen to several hundred people on weekends. Participants follow an AA system and sign liability waiver clauses.
“The absence of a strict team leader certification system cannot guarantee the capabilities of leaders, nor can it provide professional and safe safeguards for special tourism activities. This easily becomes a breeding ground for frequent rights disputes and safety incidents. If accidents occur frequently, it will be very detrimental to the development of special tourism in Xinjiang,” Deng Hong believes.
In recent years, along with the vigorous development of outdoor sports in China, adventure tourism and outdoor activities have become fashionable, and various accidents have emerged one after another. According to incomplete statistics from the “China Outdoor Safety Accident Research Report,” in 2010, there were 182 outdoor sports accidents in China, mainly concentrated in summer and autumn, with October being the peak period for accidents. Getting lost during the trip accounted for over 51.6% of outdoor accidents. Not long ago, the incident in which two Beijing travel enthusiasts were trapped and died on Ling Mountain also attracted widespread public attention. The safety and management of outdoor activities are increasingly becoming a focus of concern.
Committee member Deng Hong suggested: Strengthen the guidance and regulation of outdoor exploration tourism as soon as possible, establish safety assurance standards for exploration tourism, and implement qualification certification and an access system for the organizers of exploration activities. Tourism management departments, industry associations, and local governments should fulfill their safety supervision duties, conduct safety risk assessments and disclosures for various scenic areas, and provide supporting services such as geographical and meteorological information to ensure the safety of travel enthusiasts’ explorations.