Beijing Issues New Tourism Regulations and Clarifies the Concept of Family-Owned Inns for the First Time

The Beijing Tourism Regulations are set to take effect on August 1st. The regulation emphasizes the newly drafted top-level management plan of the family-owned inns, and clarifies the concept of a “family-owned inn” for the first time in history. The specific management regulations of the urban and rural family-owned inns will be made and take effect before August of the following year.

On July 7th, 2017, the People’s Government of Beijing Municipality joined hands with the Beijing Municipal Commission of Tourism Development and other government organs, and held the Beijing Tourism Regulations news conference. Song Yu, Director of Beijing Municipal Commission of Tourism Development, said that the rural family-owned inns of Beijing are originated from the farmhouses (nong jia le) of the late 1980s, and have now developed into folk tourism households and boutique village hotels. The urban family-owned inns originating from 2008 “Olympic Homestays,” have all but nearly disappeared. The family-owned inns’ operation was based on the personal homes of the residents, and this method was identical to the operating method of hostels. Similarly, accommodation services are offered to the public and fees are charged on a daily basis.

In recent years, as independent travel prevails and the internet becomes even more powerful, the family-owned-inn tourism accommodation, which combines local elements of the destination, has become more and more prevalent. The family-owned-inn tourism has become prosperous across China. However, the current laws and rules have no specific regulations for today’s family-owned inns.

According to the Tourism Law of the People’s Republic of China, and in light of the administrative regulations related to the family-owned-inn management of the State Council of China to be implemented, the regulations to be implemented has a specific plan for the family-owned-inn management, and clarifies the concept of a “family-owned inn.”

The regulations point out that a family-owned inn refers to a place that urban and rural residents have property rights and is used to provide accommodation for tourists. These residential houses used as guesthouses are to be operated according to the law.

The regulations clearly stipulate that the operation of a family-owned inn should have business registration, adhere to the related family-owned inn management regulations of China and Beijing, have legal access to the family-owned-inn market, and link up with the regulations of China and Beijing which have already taken effect or to take effect.

The regulations also stipulate that, according to the tourism development plan, the Municipal Government and District Governments of Beijing should strengthen their guidance of the family-owned-inn operation and encourage rural family-owned inns’ development. The district governments should support that farmers' cooperatively accept their members' entrustment, and operate the family-owned inns based on the legal houses on the lands of their members.

Wang Hongjian, Director of the First Division of the Legal Affairs Office of the People’s Government of Beijing Municipality, discloses that the specific management regulations of the urban and rural family-owned inns of Beijing will officially take effect before August 1st, 2018. The issue of the regulations will help Beijing’s urban and rural family-owned inns develop on a healthy track guided by the law and regulations, and at the same time, satisfy people’s consumption demands of tours, sightseeing and leisure during their travels.