Chinese travel agency teaches tourists better ways



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Jane Jie Sun runs Ctrip, the largest online travel agency in China. His company also inadvertently doubles as a school of etiquette.

Sun said his company is committed to improving the reputation of Chinese tourists, whose international reputation has suffered from violations of social norms while traveling abroad. These incidents were once so serious – and so frequent – that in 2013, Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang issued a warning, claiming that the "uncivilized behavior" of the country's unlikely ambbadadors undermined their image. country.

"Many people are so curious the first time they see the world, they are so excited that they try to take pictures even on the street," Sun said. The wealth Global Tech Forum at the Four Seasons Hotel in Guangzhou, China, Thursday. (A video livestream of the event is available here.)

Sun said Ctrip was trying to teach new travelers better ways through e-mail, Tencent's WeChat app updates, face-to-face training sessions at the company's offices, and videos. online. Some lessons learned include: not throwing garbage, avoiding graffiti in historical monuments, and dressing with respect in places where decorum is expected, such as churches.

Sun's remarks were motivated by a question asked by an audience member: George Yip, professor of marketing and strategy at the Imperial College London Business School. He asked if Ctrip "would do its job" to tackle the wrongs suffered by Chinese tourists.

Sun responded in the affirmative, noting that American and Japanese tourists had already dealt with similar allegations of misbehavior abroad. Stereotypes are coming in "waves," she said.

Sun, who appeared on The wealth The list of the most influential women this year became Ctrip's CEO in 2016. She joined the company as CFO in 2005, before taking on the role of COO before taking the helm.

Interestingly, Sun's husband, John Wu, was the first technology manager of the Chinese internet giant, Alibaba, a company that has become one of Ctrip's leading competitors in the online travel market.

Even in the face of competition, Sun keeps him cordial. "I think every platform has a different strength," she said, highlighting the joint ventures of her own company with Tencent.

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