MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING

between

The Government of the Commonwealth of. The Bahamas

and

The National Tourism Administration of the People's Republic of China
on the Facilitation of Group Travel
by Chinese Tourists to Bahamas

 

The Government of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas (hereinafter referred to as “the Bahamian Side") and the National Tourism Administration of the People's Republic of China (hereinafter referred to as lithe Chinese Side") have agreed on the Facilitation of Group Travel by Chinese Tourists to The Bahamas. Both Sides have reached agreement on the following points:

ARTICLE I

1. The Chinese Side shall designate the travel agencies in China (hereinafter referred to as "the Chinese designated travel agencies"), which have been authorized by China National Tourism Administration (CNTA) to operate outbound travel business for Chinese citizens, to organize the outbound group travel of Chinese tourists to The Bahamas.

2. The Bahamian Side shall designate or recommend the travel agencies that are in operation according to the laws of The Bahamas, and which are interested in arranging travel of Chinese tourist groups (hereinafter referred to as the "the Bahamian tourism service providers"), to organize the group travel of Chinese tourists in The Bahamas.

3. Both Sides shall confirm to each other, in writing, the list of their respectively designated or recommended travel agencies, which shall include their company names, addresses, telephone numbers, fax numbers, email addresses and contact persons, etc. In the case of any change in the list of either side, every half year the side that makes the change could inform the other side in writing.

4. The travel agencies indicated in the list of both Side shall be entitled to select themselves their business partners from the list of the other party, in order to sign contracts with them.

ARTICLE II

1. The legitimate rights and interests of the Chinese citizens travelling in The Bahamas in tourist groups shall be protected by the relevant laws of The Bahamas. In the case of violation, the agencies in question will be subject to the laws of The Bahamas.

2. The Bahamian Side and its tourism institutions or the Bahamian tourism service providers shall set up hotlines for consultation and emergency assistance to Chinese tourists. And in the meanwhile, the Bahamian Side shall request the Bahamian tourism service providers to make relevant information available to the Chinese designated travel agencies, in particular regarding travel possibilities to and within The Bahamas, services of importance for Chinese tourists and their prices and other information that can help to protect the tourists' legitimate rights.

ARTICLE III

 1. The Chinese Side requests that Chinese tourist groups shall depart and return from/to the Chinese and Bahamian territory in groups when they travel to The Bahamas. The Chinese designated travel agencies must provide a tour leader to each group.

2. The Bahamian Side shall request the Bahamian tourism service providers to assign a tour guide for each group who will help, through mutual consultation with the Chinese tour leader, to solve any problem to be encountered by the Chinese tourists during the whole trip in The Bahamas.

ARTICLE IV  

1. The Bahamian Side shall provide visas on arrival' in accordance with Bahamian Law, for the tourist groups that are organized by the Chinese designated travel agencies.

2. The Bahamian Side shall not issue visas on arrival for Chinese tourist groups to Bahamas by any Chinese travel agency, unit or individual other than the Chinese designated travel agencies; nor accept visa applications submitted on behalf of Chinese tourist groups, by any organization or individual of The Bahamas and other countries based in China.

. 3. The Chinese designated travel agencies shall provide to the Bahamian Side the valid passports, the return tickets and the confirmation of hotel reservation of their tourist groups members to obtain visas on arrival.  

ARTICLE V  

Both Sides shall do their best to solve any other problem that may arise in the course of the travel activities undertaken according to this Memorandum of Understanding.  

ARTICLE VI

In order to ensure the sound operation of Chinese tourist groups travelling to The Bahamas, the relevant departments on both Sides shall exchange information and data timely, and work closely together to improve management measures of the Chinese tourist groups to The Bahamas.

ARTICLE VII

The present Memorandum of Understanding shall enter into force as of the date of signature. It shall be applied until either of the Parties gives 30days written notification prior to termination.