In 2011, outdoor sports in China flourished, with an increasing number of "travel enthusiasts" and a constant stream of various accidents, making the safety and management of outdoor activities a focal point of public concern. Recently, the Social Survey Center of China Youth Daily conducted an online survey titled "Who Should Be Responsible for Travel Enthusiasts' Expedition Accidents" through Minyi China Network and NetEase News Center (with 1,990 participants), showing that 59.6% of respondents enjoy outdoor expeditions. 42.3% support self-organized outdoor expeditions by travel enthusiasts, but 25.2% oppose them, and 32.5% are unsure. Among the respondents, those born in the 1970s accounted for 37.3%, and those born in the 1980s made up 42.5%.
78.6% believe lack of outdoor experience among travel enthusiasts leads to frequent accidents
The survey found that 56.9% of respondents said there are many people around them who enjoy outdoor sports.
The survey found that 56.9% of respondents said there are many people around them who enjoy outdoor sports.
An increasing number of travel enthusiasts are keen on independent travel and exploration, yet safety accidents occur frequently. The 2010 China Outdoor Safety Accident Research Report on the official website of the China Emergency Rescue Alliance shows that getting lost is the leading cause of outdoor accidents, accounting for 51.6% of all such incidents. The main reasons for getting lost include lack of outdoor knowledge, insufficient personal ability, and inadequate preparation.
This survey shows that 78.6% of people believe the frequent occurrence of travel enthusiast expedition accidents is due to their lack of outdoor sports experience.
"There are too many 'fake travel enthusiasts' these days," said Mr. Chen, a travel enthusiast. "Who can organize activities? How are qualifications determined? Does buying tens of thousands of yuan worth of gear or paying so-called certification fees mean you're qualified? In this era when anyone can call themselves a 'travel enthusiast,' most people are actually still clueless."
Mr. Chen said that many people lack sufficient wilderness survival experience, which often leads to being "stranded." This not only requires us to arrange expedition destinations based on our own conditions but, more importantly, to have "leaders" who can provide adequate wilderness survival experience. The various qualities of these "leaders" must be rigorously vetted.
Wang Jiansheng, president of the Hainan Tourism Development Research Association, said in an interview with China Youth Daily that in this information age, many travel enthusiasts can easily gather online, but many lack adequate psychological and technical preparation. They also tend to pursue individuality and like to venture recklessly into rarely visited places, which is very dangerous.
He believes that a prominent issue at present is the qualification of expedition organizers. Travel enthusiast expeditions are a new phenomenon, and organizing bodies are often virtual, possibly just a Weibo account or a post. Even if there is a physical organization, it may not be registered or properly managed. For this new form of tourism, how to manage it—such as personnel training and service standardization—needs to be considered urgently. International best practices can be referenced, such as diving: diving clubs have certifications and management, coaches undergo strict certification processes, and equipment, teaching materials, and training are all well-established.
The survey found that 67.7% believe qualification certification should be required for expedition organizers, and unqualified individuals should be banned from organizing expeditions. 52.0% pointed out that without an industry entry system, the adventure tourism market will inevitably be a mix of good and bad.
56.2% suggest relevant departments conduct safety risk assessments for scenic areas and make the results public
In recent years, there have been multiple cases nationwide where public resources were used to rescue travel enthusiasts on expeditions. Who should bear the responsibility when such expeditions go wrong?
Zhang Tongbing, an editor at a Beijing publishing house who describes himself as a "non-senior little travel enthusiast," has traveled to the mountains around Beijing in recent years. He feels that travel enthusiasts should act within their capabilities during expeditions. If something goes wrong and public resources are used for rescue, it is the government's and society's responsibility. But those who are overconfident and recklessly embark on expeditions should not get off scot-free—they need to understand that social resources are precious, and respecting others' labor is also a must.
Wang Jiansheng believes that the activity organizer should bear primary responsibility, and the tourism site manager should share joint liability. Managers should give prior warnings about risks to prevent problems before they arise. Travel enthusiasts should also take responsibility for themselves. "For example, tourism sites have designated areas, but if you insist on going somewhere no one knows about and something happens, who will find you? Isn't that playing with your life?"
The survey found that 52.8% pointed out that some scenic areas lack warnings and signs in dangerous areas, leading to travel enthusiasts inadvertently getting into trouble. 56.2% suggest that relevant departments conduct safety risk assessments for various scenic areas and make the results public.
As outdoor exploration becomes more common, the footsteps of travel enthusiasts have reached farther and farther, with many rarely visited mountains and valleys becoming popular destinations, including prohibited and protected areas. In September 2006, China issued the Great Wall Protection Regulations, banning organized activities in sections of the Great Wall not designated as tourist areas, yet it still couldn’t stop many travel enthusiasts from climbing the "wild Great Wall," causing considerable damage to it.
According to the Chengdu Evening News, Li Rongwei, a member of the Standing Committee of the Sichuan Provincial People's Congress, suggested that relevant departments clearly define which areas are unsuitable or off-limits for tourists. More specific regulations on tourists' obligations should also be established. "If tourists enter restricted areas, should they bear the consequences? These should be written into the Tourism Regulations to properly regulate tourists' behavior."
The survey found that 69.3% suggest establishing an expedition registration system, requiring unregistered travel enthusiasts to pay for rescue costs if they encounter danger.
Mr. Chen stated that travel enthusiasts should also follow rules: travel routes must be declared, and off-limit areas should not be entered to avoid trespassing into restricted zones, damaging the natural environment, or even affecting national security.
Wang Jiansheng said that such intrusions can be intentional or unintentional. Some travel enthusiasts may unknowingly enter military-sensitive areas, but it can still pose national security risks. For example, some military restricted zones are rarely visited and have well-preserved natural ecosystems. Some travel enthusiasts may enter without permission. If something goes wrong, social rescue is required, and it’s hard to guarantee no leaks of classified information—even a rescue photo on Weibo could lead to a breach. This possibility exists, and everyone needs to be aware.
The survey found that 62.5% said clear regulations should define areas where tourists should not or cannot enter.
