More than 20 minsu have obtained licenses since September
More than 20 minsu, a Chinese version of guesthouses or B&B, have obtained licenses since after the city released a guideline in September to encourage their expansion, city tourism authorities said on Wednesday.
They are located in Pudong New Area, Jinshan, Qingpu and Fengxian districts. Some in Chongming are expected to be licensed soon, the Shanghai Culture and Tourism Administration told the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference Shanghai Committee on Wednesday.
Some minsu have formed brands and scaled development, said Zhu Guojian, director of the industry development department of the administration.
However, some problems such as vague use of the term minsu, poor management, unlicensed operations, a lack of standards, and short supply of land have emerged, he said.
Many minsu operate in a grey area due to lack of regulation, he said.
The absence of standards leads to varied service quality, he said.
The administration has suggested a temporary registration system and expansion in nearby countryside parks and tourist resorts .