Don't yell into the mobile phone, and wash your hands before and after eating.

Well, generally, behave well.

These are not rules for kindergarten kids they are the basic "do's and don'ts" China wants its citizens to abide by when they travel, at home and abroad.

Yesterday, the Spiritual Civilization Steering Committee of the Communist Party of China Central Committee launched an educational campaign after gathering public inputs on how travellers should behave.

Expert groups and Party and governmental departments are compiling the guidelines.

Civil servants and executives in State-owned enterprises are the immediate target while the media will educate the general public.

The campaign will last till the end of 2008, when Beijing hosts the Olympic Games.

China's tourism industry has been developing rapidly in recent years. Last year, there were 31 million outbound travellers and 1.2 billion domestic trips, according to the China National Tourism Administration.

The number of outbound travellers is expected to reach 100 million by 2020, but "the behaviour of some Chinese travellers is not compatible with the nation's economic strength and its growing international status," said the steering committee in a circular.

Many tourists clear their throats loudly and spit, take off shoes aboard planes and trains, squat and smoke in public places, and often appear uncouth.

In a typical example, chewing gum has to be repeatedly scraped off almost every corner of Tian'anmen Square, one of the major tourist attractions in Beijing.

Robert Lao, a retired senior Chinese-Canadian official, said the campaign is timely as some travellers have marred the image of the country.

"Decent behaviour is a reflection of a country's character," said Lao, who has organized many overseas trips for Chinese officials and now lives in Beijing after working for the Canadian Government for more than three decades.

"Travellers should also learn social conventions, table manners and etiquette in different countries," said Lao.

"It's a demanding task, but it is important to win respect."

(China Daily 08/17/2006 page1)

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