Tourists to China offered compensation for bad air days

March 19, 2014

BEIJING – China’s largest online travel agency, Ctrip.com, together with Ping An Insurance, has begun selling pollution travel insurance. Tourists who have booked packaged tours or backpack tours via Ctrip that last between three and seven days can buy pollution insurance on the company’s website.

During the insurance period, if tourists stay in the designated city for at least two days during hazy weather, they will be able to file claims on their insurance. The premium is priced at RMB 10 yuan and daily compensation limit is RMB 50 per person.

The first six cities chosen for the insurance are Beijing, Xi'an, Harbin, Chengdu, Guangzhou and Shanghai, with standards of compensation varying between cities. Rising pollution has resulted in a drop in tourism; statistics from the Beijing Tourism Development Commission show inbound tourism for Beijing reached 4.2 million visitors from January to November 2013, down 10.3% year on year.