Legal services settle disputes in Xinjiang's scenic areas

The high people's court of the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region has introduced legal services at 94 scenic spots to help tourists settle disputes that occur during their journeys.

Xinjiang's tourism recovered well during the peak summer holiday period, before being hampered by outbreaks of COVID-19. The average daily volume of visits to the region's 5A scenic spots－the highest rating in China－exceeded 110,000 in July, triple that of June, according to the region's department of culture and tourism.

To guarantee a better travel experience for tourists who might encounter emergencies or disputes during their trips, access to small-claims court judges and legal advice is being provided at various destinations.

The contacts of judges and legal professionals whose "patch" covers a particular scenic spot are posted in prominent locations, such as ticket offices, so that visitors can seek professional guidance or conflict resolution services.

Additionally, legal professionals have been tasked with holding activities at scenic spots to inform the public of their legal rights during their travels, as well as possible travel risks and emergencies.

A tourist from Nanjing, Jiangsu province, using the name Wang, spent some time in July traveling around Xinjiang in his car with his family, according to a report from Xinjiang Daily.

"Without the legal help provided during my trip I would have been in a terrible mood for the remainder of my trip after getting involved in an accident on July 12," he recalled.

On that day, Wang and his family drove to Nalati Grassland Scenic Spot in the Ili Kazak autonomous prefecture, where his car was scraped by the vehicle of a visitor from Hubei province.

The pair were unable to agree on compensation, risking delays in their travel schedules. Fortunately, Yusup Ali, a judge from a nearby circuit court, was able to be contacted and quickly helped both sides reach an agreement.

On July 31, Xu Huizi, a tourist from Zhejiang province, came across a judge from a local circuit court who was holding an activity on legal rights awareness at a scenic spot in Xinjiang's Hotan county. Xu asked the judge some legal questions with regard to tourism and consumer rights.

She said she was surprised at being able to have a free legal consultation at a scenic spot, and her newly gleaned knowledge added an even brighter shine to the wonderful environment she had come to see.

Visitors to many scenic spots in Xinjiang can scan prominently displayed QR codes to access the online platform of a circuit court to ask for legal services.

Zhang Liang, a judge from Xinjiang's regional high court, said that legal teams are collaborating with culture and tourism authorities to fuel the sound development of the tourism industry.

"The services provided by the 94 circuit courts across the region aim to provide a solid judicial safeguard for the high-quality development of tourism in Xinjiang, ensuring visitors a safe and joyous journey," he said.

Contact the writers at xingwen@chinadaily.com.cn