The National Tourism Administration will pilot a freelance tour guide program in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Shanghai and six other provincial-level regions beginning this month, in an attempt to reduce the number of shopping trips, which tourists frequently complain about.

自今年5月起，国家旅游局将在江苏、浙江、上海等9省市开展导游自由执业试点工作，试图以此减少频频引发游客投诉的"购物团"的数量。

Freelance tour guides are required to sell their services via online platforms and/or offline agencies and collect service fees through a third-party payment platform

参与自由执业的导游需要通过网络平台和/或线下机构出售导游服务，并通过第三方支付平台收取导游服务费。

According to a circular issued by the administration, the pilot program is part of a comprehensive reform of the country's tour guide system that will tap more job opportunities for tour guides and create a fair and orderly tourism market.

根据当局发布的通知指出，这一试点方案是国家导游系统的综合改革的一部分，该改革将为导游挖掘更多的就业机会，并建立一个公平有序的旅游市场。

According to Sun Liqun, an executive at China International Travel Service, most tour guides in the selected provinces are not affiliated¹ to any travel agencies and operate on a freelance basis, so the pilot program will help enhance supervision² of them.

中国国际旅行社一名名叫孙利群的高管表示，在选定的这些省份当中，绝大多数的导游是不隶属于任何旅行社的，并且是以自由职业者为基础的。因此，该试点计划将有助于加强监管。

A series of supervision measures, including a package of standard contracts, will be launched soon. Freelance tour guides must sign contracts with legal agencies and are forbidden to bypass online booking platforms or relevant offline agencies to offer services directly to tourists. Those who violate the rule will be fined between 1,000 yuan ($153.3) and 10,000 yuan and have their license³ suspended or revoked⁴.

一系列相关监管措施将于近期出台。自由执业的导游必须与合法的机构签订合同，不得绕过网络预约平台或线下自由执业业务机构，自行开展自由执业业务。违规导游将被处以1000元以上1万元以下罚款，并暂扣或者吊销导游证。

They are also banned from offering services other than tour guiding and will be punished for hard selling goods and services or recommending illegal accommodation⁵.

此外，他们也被禁止提供除导游之外的其他服务，如果有商品和服务的硬销售、或是推荐非法住宿的行为，他们将受到惩罚。