TOURISM | Attack on tour guide by four tourists causes local protest

A mainland tour guide has been sent to hospital after being beaten up by four of his tour members in Macau over the weekend due to “irrational” self-funded items on their itinerary. The physical violence has prompted a local tour guide-led protest outside a police station close to Tap Seac Square.
The conflict broke out on Saturday at noon at Lotus Square, where the four mainland tourists on an low-budget trip from Harbin to Macau and Hong Kong reportedly became unsatisfied with their itinerary, which required the participants to pay MOP200 before they could visit local casinos. During the squabble, it is alleged that the three angry men and one woman punched the tour leader in the head.
The mainland tourists’ violent behaviour has triggered a protest at the entrance of the police station, where nearly 100 local tour guides voiced their support for the wounded worker and denounced the uncivilized assault. The protesters also urged the local tourist office (MGTO) to protect the safety of local tourism industry workers.
The authorities have already charged the four mainland assaulters and sent them to the Public Prosecutions Office. MGTO officials said that they would soon report the incident to the tourism ministry. Last month, the central government signed in a new law to punish Chinese tourists who commit uncivilized deeds while abroad.  Staff reporter