New Travel Contract Model to Boost China's Tourism Regulations

Abstract representation of tourism regulations and contracts.

The Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the State Administration for Market Regulation have jointly unveiled the 2026 version of the Team Travel Contract (Model Text) with the objective of enhancing the regulation of the tourism market, improving service quality, and ensuring the legal rights and interests of both tourists and travel agencies. This updated model contract will come into effect nationwide on March 31, 2026.

The new 2026 model text encompasses six distinct documents: the "Domestic Team Travel Contract (Model Text)," the "Outbound Team Travel Contract (Model Text)," the "Mainland Residents Traveling to Taiwan Contract (Model Text)," the "One-Day Domestic Tour Contract (Model Text)," the "Contract Between Domestic Travel Agencies and Ground Services (Model Text)," and the innovative "Research Study Travel Contract (Model Text)." These revisions are designed to bolster safety measures provided by travel agencies, clarify rules regarding shopping activities and optional paid excursions, and enhance the protection of tourists' rights. Additionally, the measures aim to improve personal information protection and ensure travel agencies conduct regulated research study travel activities.

This revision process is informed by real-world experiences from the application of team travel contracts and integrates extensive feedback from various stakeholders, including consumer rights protection associations, the China Travel Service Association, local cultural and tourism authorities, travel agency representatives, and experts from the legal field. This collaborative effort has led to the revision of five existing model contracts and the introduction of the new "Research Study Travel Contract (Model Text)."

Tourists and travel agencies can easily access the 2026 version of the Team Travel Contract (Model Text). It is available for download on the official websites of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the State Administration for Market Regulation, alongside the "Voice of Culture and Tourism" government new media platform.