China's first tourism law comes into effect from Oct 1,2013

Travel operators in China have a huge new set of rules to follow now that the country's first tourism law is in place.

Approved in April, the 112-article law came into effect October 1 and aims to promote sustained industry growth.

It includes measures to address issues -- mostly in the domestic industry -- such as tourist safety, unfair competition and forced shopping trips, in which agencies offer cheap tours but recoup their costs from commissions in partner shops

Tour guides and agencies that break the new laws face steep fines of up to RMB 300,000 ($49,000).