To: Shanghai Municipal Tourism Bureau
    To carry out the important strategic arrangement of the CPC and the State Council for building China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone (hereinafter referred to as the Pilot Zone), support the construction of the Pilot Zone, further deepen the reform of tourism industry and enlarge the opening up, and in accordance with the essence of the Notice of the State Council on Promulgation of the Framework Plan for China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone and actual circumstances of the Pilot Zone, on the principle of making reform and innovation and taking the lead in making first try, we hereby put forward the following suggestions:
    I. We entrust you to handle and approve the establishment by foreign businessmen of Chinese-foreign joint-venture travel agencies, Chinese-foreign co-operative travel agencies and foreign-funded travel agencies, according to the Tourism Law and Regulations on Travel Agencies.
    II. If a Chinese-foreign joint-venture travel agency makes relocation and registration in the Pilot Zone, the business permit time it obtained is calculated from the date of establishment of the travel agency before relocation.
    III. If a foreign-funded mainland outbound tour group agency makes relocation and registration in the Pilot Zone as a Chinese-foreign joint-venture travel agency, the former outbound tour business qualification for outbound tour group agency shall be void and the business permit time of the Chinese-foreign joint-venture travel agency is calculated from the date of establishment of the former outbound tour group agency.
IV. The time for application for outbound tour business, except for Taiwan region, lodged by an eligible Chinese-foreign joint-venture travel agency registered in the Pilot Zone with examination and approval of the National Tourism Administration is 20 working days. 
V.  In respect of supervision over the outbound tour business, except for Taiwan region, operated by a Chinese-foreign joint-venture travel agency in the Pilot Zone, you shall make the specific implementation under the leadership of Shanghai Municipal People’s Government.
    Our functional division and office shall, in conjunction with you, specifically implement these suggestions on supporting the construction of the Pilot Zone. You shall, under the leadership of Shanghai Municipal People’s Government, earnestly perform the statutory duties, enhance supervision, constantly innovate and make positive contributions to push forward the construction of Pilot Zone.

National Tourism Administration of the People’s Republic of China
March 14, 2014