Tourism sector admits lack of rules as gov’t plans guidelines

[Photo: Lynzy Valles]

The local tourism sector has acknowledged that the travel photography industry has long lacked proper regulation, as the government prepares to introduce guidelines following concerns over excessive fees and forced purchases.

The government has launched a public consultation on the “Regulatory Regime for Specific Businesses and Activities,” under which the Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) proposes to introduce a registration system to regulate paid “travel photography” services – limited to Macau residents – that are solicited and arranged on-site at tourist attractions, alongside industry guidelines to prevent exorbitant pricing and coercive sales practices.

The proposal has garnered support, with a youth representative at a recent public consultation session noting that the scheme – with its low entry barriers and quick start-up potential – represented a viable entry point for young entrepreneurs.

Following the consultation session, Macau’s tourism sector told the media that the travel photography industry has long operated without standards or clear boundaries, giving rise to widespread service irregularities.

As reported by Chinese-language media outlet Hou Kong Daily, Macao Tourism Development Association President Yao Yao has called for regulation that avoids a “one-size-fits-all” approach and instead establishes a precise, traceable tiered penalty system.

He noted that for first-time, minor, or non-malicious violations, the focus should be on education, guidance, and rectification within a set deadline.

However, for serious offences such as exorbitant pricing, coercive consumption, repeat violations, and frequent tourist complaints, authorities should impose strict penalties – including warnings, suspensions, or even revocation of registration – along with public disclosure to create a deterrent effect.

According to his suggestion to the government, the new system could effectively address the long-standing lack of regulation in the industry by focusing on three key areas: regulatory management, tiered penalties, and industry development.

Under the proposed regulatory framework, a comprehensive registration system for commercial travel photography would be introduced to clarify practitioner qualifications, while dedicated photography zones within scenic areas would be scientifically designated, along with clear operating hours and capacity limits.

Uniform pricing standards, service content, and cancellation policies would also be made publicly available, with a clear distinction to be drawn between casual tourist photography and commercial shoots.

He also believes the new system would effectively clean up the market, eliminate unscrupulous and poorly managed operators, and force the industry to transform and upgrade.

He suggested that local travel photography should be deeply integrated with Macau’s UNESCO heritage sites and its unique East-meets-West urban character to develop original, differentiated products and move away from homogeneous competition.

Notably, there have been cases in the past where local residents were penalized for providing paid photography services in public areas, rooted in the fact that under the current legal framework, such on-the-spot, fee-for-service mobile operations are subject to the “Hawker Management Regime.”

This has prompted IAM to draft industry guidelines to prevent exorbitant pricing and coercive consumption, though the initial proposal does not envisage charging registration fees or requiring service providers to declare price lists.

The travel photography registration system targets on-site solicitation and immediate paid services at tourist spots, with consultation feedback backing simpler procedures and focusing on location, quota, and operating hour arrangements.