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Chinese travel agencies ban young tourists for not shopping enough


Skift Take

Banning tourists under 28 because they don't shop enough exposes a deceitful business model by travel agencies who earn their commission from -- and show the most loyalty to -- shopkeepers who pay their commissions.

Chinese tourists have multiplied in step with the country's booming economy. And like travelers everywhere, they spend a chunk of their time -- and, yes, money -- shopping.

But recently, several travel agencies in Wuhan, in China's Hubei Province, have refused to sign up people for organized tours if they are under 28 years old on the grounds that they won't shop enough, the Xinhua News reported.

“This is because young people are big clients of e-commerce and won’t spend much money at the organized shopping spots and the tour guides won't be able to make enough commission”, a certain Ms. Chang told the reporter.

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