The city of Taiyuan, Shanxi province, has taken the lead in the informationized regulation in tourism, with its key "Intelligent Tourism", according to the China National Tourism Administration, which has sets up a nationwide tourist services management system to improve regulations and efficiency.

The system relies on information technology to track itineraries, travel agencies, and tourists and, this year, it covered all of Taiyuan's travel agencies, putting it in 11th place in number of agencies covered and 7th in number of tour groups, of all sub-provincial and prefecture-level cities.

This system benefits agencies, tourists, and employees and improves regulations and service, but that is not enough for Taiyuan, which has its eye on bigger things, such as establishing an "intelligent tourism" system that covers public services, city management, tourist services, and e-commerce, to improve the travel industry and create a great tourism e-service platform.

Edited by Roger Bradshaw