Shanghai's tourism industry still has considerable room for improvement, a survey conducted by the city's consumer rights watchdog has revealed.

The Shanghai Commission of Consumers' Rights and Interests Protection invited volunteers from surrounding provinces to rate their Shanghai experiences in terms of traffic, shopping, catering and accommodation.

Their verdicts led the group to conclude some tourism-related services were not satisfactory.

The survey involved 46 volunteers from six cities in Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces during August and September, said the commission.

The bus environment and conductors' cold attitudes toward passengers received the least satisfaction -- just 28 percent were satisfied.

"Some drivers smoke while working, and some conductors never bother to answer passengers' questions, which has left many with a bad impression," said Lu Xueqin, an official with the commission.

The loud, continuous advertisements broadcast in the bus coach also troubled the volunteers. Volunteers suggested providing tour guide services on sightseeing buses.

"The sightseeing buses usually pass through scenic spots in the city, but now they fill the role of common public buses," Lu said.

About 85 percent of the volunteers said they were satisfied with the shopping conditions in the city, but problems still existed.

Street salesmen and ads leaflet distributors on the main shopping centers such as Nanjing Road and Huaihai Road annoyed the volunteers.

"The volunteers said some salesmen just followed them all the way along the streets, upsetting them," Lu said.

As for catering and accommodation, 14 percent of the volunteers said the food and environment at some small-size restaurants and hotels was unbearable.

"Food was not fresh in some restaurants, and some hotels could not provide basic facilities in rooms," Lu said.

Complaints on the scenic spots focused on the boat tour on the Huangpu River. "Most volunteers said a tour on the boat was only 40 minutes, 20 minutes less than it said on the ads," Lu said. "And different boats take the same route, making the tour rather dull."

(Shanghai Daily November 19, 2007)