Tourism chief: No ‘five-star’ restrooms

Local authorities have been urged to think flush, not flash, when building new restrooms at visitor attractions.

China has been going through a “toilet revolution” that aims to build or renovate thousands of public restrooms nationwide.

“But we don’t need local government’s trying to outdo each other with ‘five-star toilets’ — we just need to build practical public facilities based on local conditions that are accessible and convenient,” Li Jinzao, director of the China National Tourism Administration, said on Monday.

Speaking at a news conference in Xiamen, Fujian province, he added that toilets have an influence on living standards, so they must be well-managed to ensure that they are clean and free of charge.

The administration launched its toilet revolution in 2015. By of the end of 2017, about 70,000 toilets had been built or reconstructed nationwide, according to Li’s administration.

A new three-year plan has since been released to improve the sanitation standards at tourist spots — in cities and rural areas, from east to west — with another 64,000 toilets expected to be constructed or transformed by 2020.

To realize the goal, Li said governments will need to overcome difficulties in terms of land, funds, technology and environmental protection.

“We’ll offer more financial and policy support to toilet projects, upgrade the management of public toilets via information technology and improve the services offered at such facilities,” he said.

Li mentioned that China will also promote a “toilet chief ” system. He did not elaborate, but this could be similar to the nation’s “river chief ” policy, which sees officials at each level of government appointed to take charge of the water sources in their area.

We just need to build practical public facilities based on local conditions that are accessible and convenient.” Li Jinzao, director of the China National Tourism Administration