Rules focus on homeowners who rent to tourists

Beijing will introduce a new tourism regulation on Aug 1 to improve operation and management of private accommodations rented to tourists, or minsu, and better govern day trips, the city government announced over the weekend.

The regulation "tackles the key issues of the industry by dividing responsibilities among different government departments for better supervision", said Song Yu, head of the Beijing Commission of Tourism Development.

"It also supplements the China Tourism Law, offering more details without repeating content of the law."

As independent traveling has become more popular in the internet era, minsu have grown in popularity, with boutique hotels and homestays offering tourists the opportunity to experience local lifestyles.

The new regulation clarifies the definition of minsu as "accommodation offered by residents who own or have rights to use the property offered to guests".

The regulation states that the city and district governments should guide the development of minsu and encourage the development in suburban areas. The governments should strengthen environmental protection in rural areas and improve infrastructure such as parking and toilets, it states.

"The new regulation encourages people to better operate minsu and serve their guests," said Cui Zhaohai, 29, who opened a minsu in downtown Beijing two years ago.

He said he achieved a sense of accomplishment by renovating an old courtyard dwelling into a well-decorated minsu, protecting the old architecture.