Hong Kong, China told to ban 'zero-dollar' tours

Hong Kong should outlaw so-called zero-dollar toursnotorious for price-gouging, forced shopping, and boring tours - if it wants to regain its iconic status as Asia's shopping paradise, analysts said.

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"The solution lies in self-regulation within the tourism industry, as well as legislation from both the source market (Mainland China) and the destination (Hong Kong), to penalise illicit or outlawed business practices," Yong Chen, an associate professor at EHL Hospitality Business School, told Retail Asia.

The tours, which carry a ridiculously low price tag and force tourists to buy stuff at partner retail stores that provide commissions to tour operators, is a disservice to foreigners visiting Hong Kong, he pointed out. "Tourists are the victims, and there is plenty of evidence suggesting this." In 2015, a Chinese tourist died in Hong Kong after being attacked during a "forced shopping" tour. Just recently, the Hong Kong government revoked the licence of a local tour guide for threatening mainland Chinese visitors for refusing to shop.