Locals-only hotels in China fret over new rule to accept foreigners

Operators welcome more business but worry about the tedious registration process

- Aw Cheng Wei

Hotels in China that currently cater only to locals are worried that a recent rule change that stops them from turning away foreigners will mean more tedious processes, even as they welcome the potential new business.

Hotel operators are no longer allowed to refuse overseas visitors due to a lack of "foreign accommodation qualification", the Chinese government said in a notice on its website on May 24.

There are no comprehensive statistics on how many hotels will be affected by the new rule, though it is expected to impact the majority of hotels in the country, which currently cater primarily to the booming domestic tourism industry.

The latest change, decided jointly by the police, Commerce Ministry and immigration authority, comes after overseas tourists including those from Britain, Nigeria and Pakistan complained they were rejected for check-in at hotels.

Hotel staff explained that they lacked the capability to send the guests' particulars to the police or that they "could not enter the information into the system", the notice said.

Hotels in China are required to register foreign guests with the police within 24 hours of check-in as a means to keep tabs on foreigners, resulting in many operators outrightly refusing to take in overseas tourists due to the hassle.

The notice said the Ministry of Public Security, which refers to the police, will streamline the registration process, but it did not give details.

Staff at hotels in China that advertise they do not accept foreigners said they have yet to receive an official notice informing them of the change.

They told The Straits Times they welcome more business, which they expect the changes to bring, but they are worried about new registration processes that the police will require now that everyone has to comply.