China wants to track its citizens abroad to stop bad tourist behavior

Despite a rapidly growing business market and new cultural initiatives, the Chinese have earned quite the rude reputation when visiting other countries. And that's putting it nicely.

After dealing with Chinese tourists pooping in their moat and taking their underwear off at the airport, Thailand not only banned the group from the Wat Rong Khun (“White Temple”) for a half-day during the Chinese New Year, the government printed 90,000 Mandarin language etiquette guides to, you know, make sure visitors refrained from doing their business in public.

Then there was the Chinese couple who was escorted off a Dragonair flight by police (after the couple delayed the flight three hours) for creating an unhygienic cabin situation involving a dirty diaper.

Now, the Chinese government is trying to step in by tracking tourists' bad behavior abroad. Increased incomes in the country are allowing locals to travel more, both domestically and abroad, although some clearly aren't yet ready to leave the nest. Once tourists return home, officials will work with them on improving their behavior where needed in an effort to create a more positive country image.

This follows a guide China printed for its tourists in 2013, making (very reasonable) requests, like not to leave footprints on toilet seats, pick noses in public and/or pee in swimming pools. Hopefully the 2015 version will including defecating in canals.

Jessica Festa is the founder on the solo and offbeat travel blog, Jessie on a Journey, and the online responsible tourism and culture magazine, Epicure & Culture. She's constantly searching for local experiences beyond the guidebook. You can follow her travels on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.