Tourist Information Service
Xiamen Municipal Bureau of Tourism has established Tourist Information and Service Centers in places where tourists are concentrated and distributed such as the Airport, Railway Station and passenger quays. All the Centers, which ware put into operation in 1998, are equipped with multimedia computers to provide tourist information about Xiamen. They also provide complimentary advertising materials such as tourist manuals or guides, touring maps of Xiamen, tourist hotels and restaurants in Xiamen in addition to providing information service to touring party and individual travelers.
Public Information Signs and Symbols
In 1997, Xiamen Municipal Bureau of Tourism together with Municipal Bureau of Technical Supervision and Municipal Bureau of Civil Administration, conducted an examination in the use of signs and symbols of public information in order to get a clear picture of the problems existed in the use of these signs and symbols before taking measures to strengthen the implementation of regulations.
In early 1998, illustrations and articles presenting the standard signs and symbols concerning public information were printed on Xiamen Daily and Xiamen Commercial Daily in series, posted on the bulletin boards of each district. A joint announcement advocating the standardized use of signs and symbols concerning public information was broadcast by Xiamen TV Station-1 During the prime period of time, creating a suitable atmosphere for the standardized use of these signs and symbols.
On June 10, 1998, a coordination meeting focusing on the standardized use of signs and symbols concerning public information was held under the chair of Mayor assistant and vice director of the project of "Building Top Tourist Cities of China". It defined the duties of various relevant sections and department. The Municipal Bureau of Technical Supervision, the Municipal Tourism Administration and the Municipal Bureau of Civil Administration were put in charge of stopping the manufacture and distribution of fake and shoddy signs and symbols so as to stop up the loophole. The Municipal Bureau of Technical Supervision was also in charge of the check and control of the manufactures and sellers of these signs and symbols with anti-counterfeit marks. The Municipal Detachment Group of Fire Control, the Municipal Bureau of Public Security, the Municipal Bureau of Culture, the Municipal Bureau of Industry and Commerce, the Municipal Bureau of Public Health and the Bureau of Post and Telecommunications got down to replace the non-standardized signs and symbols used in their respective sections and systems.
In 1998, the examination panel organized by the project of "Building Top Tourist Cities of China" conducted three comprehensive examinations in the use of signs and symbols concerning public information in May, July and August. Currently, the main service industries have replaced the fake and shoddy signs and symbols with genuine ones. Gaoqi International Airport, Railway Station, Xiamen Passenger Quay and Ferry Quay, Main trunks to the Airport, Railway Station and Quays, roads leading to major tourist attractions and main tourist areas in the city proper are all marked with eye-catching accurate and standardized signs and symbols.