Can I See the Business License and Travel Business Permit? Pitfall Guide Q&A
Source: real customer inquiries from 狸猫旅行 (high-frequency customer questions: trust-related 387 times, contract-related 956 times, ticket-related 4,000+ times) + official website service terms and pricing notes
Some customers ask this right away during the first inquiry: "Can I see the business license and travel business permit?" It came up 387 times—not the most common question, but the people who ask it are often the ones who’ve already had a bad experience elsewhere, or have family members constantly reminding them to be careful. The reason is that most travelers assume the company is properly licensed, and only think to check after something goes wrong. So here’s the short answer: yes, you absolutely can—and you should check before you pay.
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Can I see the business license and travel business permit?
Yes. That is your legitimate right, not an unreasonable request. A properly run company won’t dodge this question—in fact, the legal entity information should also appear in the contract. At 狸猫旅行, you can easily verify that the contracting entity matches the company on the business license, and we use the nationwide standard tourism e-contract. In other words, the company name on the business license and the company name stamped on the contract should be exactly the same.
If you want to judge whether a company can legally handle inbound travel, two things are enough: whether the business scope on the license includes "tourism business," and whether it holds a permit issued by the tourism authorities. If either one is missing, that should give you pause. Don’t just look at a WeChat profile photo and a Moments feed full of scenic shots—those can all be copied from somewhere else.
Q: Why are some sellers unwilling to send their business license?
A: Common excuses include "we’re just a small team," "the license is with headquarters," or "the finance staff isn’t in today." They may sound like explanations, but none of them really hold up. For any normal travel agency, sending over a photo of the business license takes less than five minutes. The more evasive they are, the more you should stop and think.
Q: If I’ve seen the license, am I safe?
A: Not yet. A license only proves the company exists—it says nothing about whether they can actually deliver the trip properly. The next things to check are the contract terms, payment method, and insurance documents. Can scammers get around the "just check the license" step? Of course—they can easily send you a photo of someone else’s license. So what should you do? Make sure the contract entity matches the license, and it’s best to pay into a corporate account. 狸猫旅行 supports bank transfer (SGD / RM / RMB) and PayNow, with a clear, verifiable receiving entity.
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Is a Pure sightseeing tour really pure sightseeing?
By the time customers ask this, they’ve usually already read plenty of warnings online. "Is a Pure sightseeing tour really pure sightseeing?" comes up often in real consultations, especially when people are comparing different companies. The answer is that it should never rely on verbal promises alone. It comes down to two things: penalty clauses written into the contract, and how the driver-guide is paid.
How do cheap tours funnel you into shopping stops? Driver-guides often earn commissions or kickbacks by taking travelers to designated stores. The driver-guide takes you into stores, and the stores pay kickbacks. So if you want to know whether a Pure sightseeing tour is genuinely pure, ask one direct question: "Does the driver-guide earn a fixed salary, or commission?" If the answer is vague, you already know what that means. At 狸猫旅行, driver-guides are paid a fixed salary, and their income has nothing to do with shopping. There are no shopping stops in the itinerary, it’s written into the contract, and any violation triggers Double Compensation. This isn’t about "we’re ethical" as some feel-good slogan—it’s about the business model simply having no incentive to drag you into stores.
Can scammers get around a verbal promise of "Pure sightseeing"? Easily. They can say "pure sightseeing" a hundred times and still leave it out of the contract entirely. That’s why you need to take one more step: make sure "no shopping stops" is written into the contract, along with clear consequences for breach. Then go one step further and ask, "If you break this, how will I be compensated?" In 狸猫旅行’s 10 Service Promises, breaches are covered by Double Compensation, and dispute resolution and compensation are handled independently—also written into the contract.
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How is a private car customized tour priced?
The question customers ask most is: "How is a private car customized tour priced?" Based on our data, this question has come up 16,000 times. The cost structure itself is actually pretty straightforward: vehicle, driver-guide, hotel, tickets, and insurance. The real traps are in the way quotes are presented. Some companies quote an absurdly low total price, then start adding charges once you arrive. Others leave out attraction tickets or cable car tickets, then ask you to pay again at the entrance.
Before comparing prices, always check what is actually included. 狸猫旅行’s quotes cover transport within China, driver-guide services, hotels, attraction tickets, insurance, and more, but not international flights. Groups of four or fewer and groups of more than four are priced on different bases. The exact amount varies depending on trip length, vehicle type, hotel category, and peak vs. off-peak season, and the final figure should always be based on the itemized quote—not some vague "one flat price covers everything" promise. Quotes are shown in SGD or RM, saving you the hassle of currency conversion.
The exclusions are clearly listed: international flights, personal shopping, and private expenses outside the itinerary. The inclusions are also clear: vehicle, driver-guide, hotel, attraction tickets within the itinerary, and complimentary travel accident insurance with RMB 500,000 coverage per person. A deposit confirms the itinerary, and the balance can be paid after you arrive in China. For especially cautious guests, payment can even be made the day before the trip ends—which gives travelers from Singapore and Malaysia an extra layer of risk control.
Can scammers get around the "compare the total price" step? Absolutely. Their total may look lower, but tickets aren’t included, cable cars aren’t included, or the hotel gets switched at the last minute. So go one step further and ask for the cost breakdown line by line. Then ask: "Will there be any extra charges after I arrive?" 狸猫旅行 includes a clause in the contract for "all-inclusive pricing (you won’t need to pay one extra cent after arrival)." It only counts if it’s in writing.
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Do I need to sign a contract before joining?
Among the 956 contract-related questions, this one—"Do I need to sign a contract before joining?"—usually reflects hesitation. Some people feel like signing a contract is some kind of hurdle. In reality, it’s the opposite. The contract protects you; it doesn’t trap you. What’s truly risky is not signing one.
At 狸猫旅行, the electronic and paper versions of the contract are identical line by line, with no hidden differences between the main text and the appendices. A PDF is sent to you before departure for review, and you can sign it online before arriving in China. The contract used is the nationwide standard tourism e-contract, and the contracting entity is the same one shown on the business license. That consistency of legal entity matters especially for overseas travelers—if legal action ever becomes necessary, you know exactly who the counterparty is.
The cancellation policy is also spelled out clearly: full refund more than 30 days before departure, 70% refund at 15–30 days, 50% refund at 7–15 days, and no refund within 7 days. Those numbers may not look pretty, but transparency is protection in itself. Once you know the worst-case scenario, making a decision becomes much easier.
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What does the insurance cover?
"What does the insurance cover?" is one of the 387 trust-related questions. Here’s the short version: each person receives complimentary travel accident insurance with RMB 500,000 coverage, included free in the trip price, and the policy details are provided together with the itinerary proposal. This amount covers accident-related scenarios—it is not some catch-all insurance policy. It does not compensate you for losses caused by cancelling the trip yourself; that part is handled by the cancellation policy.
The easiest insurance-related trap is this: they say "insurance is included," but never give you the actual policy. What you need to do is get the policy number and confirm the insured amount and coverage scope yourself. Can scammers hide behind verbal promises? Very easily. So ask for the policy and look at it with your own eyes. Then go one step further and ask: "If something happens, who do I contact?" With 狸猫旅行, your travel consultant supports you before, during, and after the trip, so if there’s an issue, you’re not left to deal with the insurance company on your own—someone is there in the group chat to help coordinate.
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Can I choose my own hotel?
"Can I choose my own hotel?" is another high-frequency question, appearing 17,000 times. The answer is yes—and once the hotel is confirmed, it is locked in. The hotel name provided before departure is the final hotel you will stay in. If the original hotel truly cannot be arranged due to special circumstances, it will always be upgraded to a higher standard, with the price difference covered by 狸猫旅行. If the arrangement doesn’t match what was agreed, Double Compensation applies.
The problem with many tours isn’t at the selection stage—it’s at check-in. You choose Hotel A, but arrive to find out it’s actually the annex building of Hotel A, or they’ve simply switched you to Hotel B. So the real question isn’t just "Can I choose?" but "Is it locked in?" Can scammers get around the "send the hotel name before departure" step? Of course. They can send you a hotel name, then later say, "That one was full, so we changed you to something similar." So take it one step further and ask: "If it gets changed, what happens?" If the answer is only "we’ll try our best to coordinate," that’s basically no answer at all. At 狸猫旅行, the contract says Double Compensation—that’s something enforceable.
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What this is not
This is not a bargain-basement checklist group tour. If what you want is "the cheapest possible price, the most sights crammed into each day, and no concern about where you stay or what you eat," then honestly, 狸猫旅行 is probably not for you. With 19 major destinations across China that can be freely combined and customized, the experience is much closer to independent travel with someone handling all the complicated parts for you—not the classic "sleep on the bus, snap a photo when you get off" style of tour.
This is not a local driver-guide taking private side jobs. It’s one car, one booking, with no group mixing. The driver-guides are assigned and managed directly by the brand, with independent quality-control spot checks behind the scenes, and at least one company manager joins the group chat. If something goes wrong, you’re not left arguing one-on-one with the driver-guide in the chat.
This is not a package that includes international flights. International airfare must be booked separately, though your travel consultant can provide flight suggestions and timing reminders.
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Is July a good time to go?
Among the 997 environment-related questions, "Is July a good time to go?" often comes up together with "Is altitude sickness serious?" Most parts of China are hot in July, while higher-elevation areas such as Yunnan and Guizhou are relatively cooler and are popular choices for escaping the heat. Altitude sickness varies from person to person and depends on physical condition, elevation, and travel pace—there is no one-size-fits-all answer. If you’re traveling with seniors or children, the trip intensity needs to be assessed in advance. Your travel consultant will also handle ticket discounts and bedding arrangements based on age, and explain everything item by item.
When it comes to attractions suitable for seniors and children, more than 2,000 inquiries focused on questions like "Which sights are good for seniors and children?" and "Which places are suitable for 3-year-old and 6-year-old children?" There’s no universal answer to that. It depends on the child’s stamina and the senior’s health condition. A more sensible approach is to first explain everyone’s physical condition clearly, and then design the itinerary around "less rushing, more backup options," rather than stuffing it full of attractions right from the start.
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Some travel pitfalls aren’t about "bad luck"—they’re what naturally happen when the process isn’t transparent. Check the business license carefully, get the breach clauses written into the contract, obtain the insurance policy, and lock in the hotel. Once those pieces are in place, then you can focus on the scenery. 狸猫旅行 doesn’t need to say much more than this: all of these points are written into the contract in black and white, and any breach is covered by Double Compensation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Will the signed contract change? (A real client question)
No. The digital and paper versions match clause by clause — no differing terms between the contract and its appendices. A PDF is sent for review before departure, and you can sign online before arriving in China. We sign China's national standard tourism e-contract; the contracting party is the entity on our business license.
Q: What are the Ten Commitments? What happens if there's a breach? (A real client question)
Ten Commitments: 1. All-inclusive pricing (no extra payments after arrival) 2. Pure sightseeing, no shopping stops 3. Hotel confirmed upon booking (the hotel name provided is the final accommodation; otherwise upgraded to a better one) 4. The main contract matches all appendices 5. Driver-guide does not solicit tips 6. The vehicle will not be changed during the trip 7. No skipped attractions 8. 500,000 RMB travel accident insurance 9. No subcontracting, no dropping guests mid-tour 10. One booking, one vehicle, no group merging. Breach consequences: Double compensation applies to any breached item (written into the contract; paid upon breach). Problem resolution and compensation are handled independently. For hotel situations, we first attempt to upgrade to a higher standard; if upgrade is impossible, compensation follows the breach terms.
Q: Why is our customer satisfaction so high? (A real client question)
Satisfaction comes from three dimensions: First, no deception — Ten Commitments written into the contract, double compensation for any single breach; Second, more value for the same price — structural enhancements (high-speed rail to Jiuzhaigou saving 6 hours on mountain roads, full Duku Highway route, complete Erhai Lake loop, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Glacier Cableway, first entry at every scenic spot); Third, someone has your back when things go wrong — a travel consultant follows through pre-trip, during, and post-trip; direct management of driver-guides; independent quality inspections; at least one company leader in the group chat.
Q: How does the team operate? (A real client question)
Travel Consultant (the person communicating with you — follows through pre-trip, during, and post-trip) + Driver-Guide (is familiar with the preferences of overseas Chinese travelers, on fixed salary, no shopping involvement) + Quality Supervisor (independent audits, not under the sales department) + At least one company leader in the group chat (to make decisions on escalated issues). We don't just hand groups over to driver-guides and step back — the entire chain is in the brand's hands.
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Key Takeaways
- Customers have the right to see a travel company’s business license and travel business permit before paying. The article says travelers should also check that the company name on the license exactly matches the company name on the contract.
- To confirm whether a company can legally handle inbound travel, the article says two checks are enough: the business scope on the license should include tourism business, and the company should hold a permit issued by the tourism authorities. A license alone does not prove the trip will be delivered properly.
- For so-called pure sightseeing tours, the article says verbal promises are not enough. Travelers should check whether no shopping stops and penalties for breaches are clearly written into the contract, and ask whether the driver-guide is paid a fixed salary or by commission.
- Private car customized tour pricing is described as being built from items such as vehicle, driver-guide, hotel, tickets, and insurance. The article warns that some low quotes leave out items like attraction or cable car tickets and add charges later, so travelers should compare what is included before comparing prices.
Official resources
- Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People's Republic of China (mct.gov.cn) — the national regulator for licensed travel agencies
- National Immigration Administration (nia.gov.cn) — official entry, exit, and immigration information for mainland China
- Consular Services, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (cs.mfa.gov.cn) — official consular information and travel notices