A group of 23 Singapore tourists, including local singer Shawn Tok, say they were pressured into making expensive purchases during a guided tour in Chengdu.
Tok, who won Campus SuperStar in 2007, was travelling with his family and friends when the alleged incidents happened. The group claimed the tour guide brought them to various shops and refused to let them leave unless they spent a minimum amount. Feeling uncomfortable, they eventually reported the incident to the local police.
Tok, 31, told Shin Min Daily News that his father had signed up for a nine-day Chengdu tour after seeing an advertisement on TikTok. The tour fee was 1,600 yuan per person, which is about SGD$293.
He and the group arrived in Chengdu on 22 November. Tok shared that this was not their first time joining a China tour booked online. They previously visited Chongqing the same way and had a positive experience.
The itinerary did state that shopping stops were included, which the group accepted as they planned to buy some local products.
“The first two days were fine. The guide did not keep bringing us to shop. But on the third day, on the way back from Jiuzhaigou to Chengdu, they started taking us to silver shops, jade shops and traditional medicine stores,” Tok said.
The situation escalated at the jade shop. Some members were tired and wanted to remain on the bus, but the guide insisted that everyone enter the store.
Tok’s father eventually bought a jade pendant for 7,000 yuan, about SGD$1,200. The group thought they would be allowed to leave after that, but things took a turn.
“The guide suddenly became very fierce and said we could not leave because our spending did not meet the expected amount. He said we had to stay there for two hours before we could go,” Tok recounted.
The tourists ended up standing inside the shop while the staff continued to promote items to them. They were only allowed to leave after Tok’s father bought another jade item, and a friend purchased one as well.
Tok said they were later brought to a traditional medicine shop and other stores, where the same thing happened. The guide even promoted a bag of meat jerky for about SGD$30, and warned that those who did not buy enough would have to carry their own luggage down later.
Feeling that something was very wrong, Tok and his friends decided to seek help. As soon as they returned to Chengdu, they went straight to the police.
Police recovered SGD$20,000 worth of purchases within 24 hours
Tok said their tour contract did not mention any compulsory spending or minimum purchase requirements. When they lodged the police report, the authorities contacted the travel agency. The tour guide and two representatives turned up but denied forcing the group to buy anything.
“China’s police work very efficiently. They resolved the matter in about an hour. We eventually recovered all the forced purchases within 24 hours, around 105,000 yuan, which is about SGD$20,000,” Tok said.
The group decided not to continue with the remaining tour itinerary. They booked their own hotel and continued the trip as free and easy travellers instead.
