Date of Release: May 19, 2016

ATA Online recently won the bid for the Technical Service Project of Computer-based Test (CBT) on the National Qualification Examination for Tour Guides, and the Test Delivery Service Project on the National Qualification Examination for Tour Guides organized by China National Tourism Administration (CNTA), with its leading CBT technologies, operational and service capabilities, and rich experiences in organizing and implementing CBT.

As we embrace the era of mass tourism, tourism has increasingly become one of the major lifestyles and socio-economic activities in modern human society. Tourism industry, therefore, has proved to be one of the most dynamic and promising industries in the world economic activities. To be a qualified tour guide, one must have a tour guide certificate, which certifies their qualification and is valid for life. Although obtaining a tour guide certificate is a must, it is only the first step.

In early 2016, CNTA began to implement the system of national qualification examination for tour guides, in an effort to meet the relevant requirements of the Circular of the State Council on Regulating the Administrative Approval Behaviors of Authorities under the State Council to Improve the Administrative Approval, and to further enhance the working mechanism of administrative approval on “issuance of qualification certificates for tour guides”. CNTA is responsible for preparing policies and standards on national qualification examination for tour guides, monitoring and managing the examinations across China, while the tourism authorities at provincial level are in charge of organizing and implementing the qualification examinations for tour guides under their administrative jurisdiction.

ATA has successfully offered CBT technical and operational services for the qualification examinations in many provinces and municipalities across China including Beijing, Guangdong, Guizhou and Gansu. It has been fully recognized and highly praised by CNTA and tourism bureaus/departments at provincial and local levels for its outstanding technical, operational and service capacities. The national qualification examination for tour guides in 2016 is expected to take place in November across the country.

(If there is any inconsistency or conflict between the English and Chinese version, the Chinese version shall prevail.)