Understanding interactions between beggars and international tourists: The case of China

Begging exists in developed as well as developing countries and in many jurisdictions is regarded as a criminal activity. In a tourism context, it is not uncommon to see begging-type activities in areas where tourists are present. Surprisingly, the literature has largely ignored begging as an issue of concern. This study examined the reaction of international tourists to encounters with beggars in China with a particular emphasis on the impact that an encounter with beggars could have on trip satisfaction. The study found that (1) elder beggars are still the most common types of beggars encountered by respondents; (2) giving money but refusing further communication with beggars was the most common reaction; (3) begging did not have a significant impact on overall trip satisfaction and (4) begging did not have a significant impact on the likelihood of revisiting China or a negative impact on future recommendations for travel to China. © 2016 Asia Pacific Tourism Association.