On the Road: China on Holiday(7)

"To come under suspicion is not a nice feeling and I rather go to places I feel welcomed," she says. She explained that sometimes she would go through tour agencies for tour group visa for convenience sake but once arrived, she decided where to stay and set her own itinerary as long as she departed the same time as the tour group.

For independent travelers, Shi Yu says visa approval is less problematic than getting permission and sorting out insurance matters for vehicles to cross several borders.

"One of the ways to overcome these problems is to fly in to host destination and then rent a vehicle inside the country. This is especially suitable if we plan to move beyond countries bordering China, such as going over to Europe, where there is a mature culture for independent holiday," says Shi, adding that her website has already attracted the attention of several international tour agencies proposing cooperation.

Impressions Beyond Asia

Dr. Arlt says some of the unrealistic expectations from western industry players include their hopes that Chinese travelers would behave like western tourists. The end of the Approved Destination Status scheme (ADS) would not help, as already now the receiving countries see that they need to continue to guard against illegal immigrants."

ADS (Approved Destination Status) is a scheme of agreement between China and another destination country for the arrangement of Chinese visitors for leisure purposes in group tours. At present, China has signed such agreements with more than 100 countries.

Tse also stresses the need for ADS to ensure orderly development of outbound tourism, saying: "Outbound tourism has far greater ramifications than just leisure, travel, and living standards. There are elements of international relations, politics, and social harmony in outbound tourism."