Chinese travel agencies entangled in international intrigue
Chinese travel agencies have become entangled in the GlaxoSmithKline bribery case, accused of laundering half a billion dollars in illegal payments from the British drugmaker to Chinese officials.
GSK has been accused of transferring as much as 3 billion yuan ($489 million) to more than 700 travel agencies and consultancies, who then passed the money to Chinese officials and doctors.
The bribery was allegedly designed to boost sales and prices of GSK medicines in the huge and lucrative Chinese market.
Four senior GSK executives have been arrested; the Ministry of Public Security said they have confessed to bribery and tax evasion.
The People’s Daily newspaper said the travel agencies billed GSK for phony "conference services" and then used some of the money on bribes.
It it is unusual for the police to disclose so much information during an investigation, Reuters noted, and the fact that they have done so indicates they feel they have a solid case.
By Cheryl Rosen
Cheryl
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Global tourism exceeds 1.5 billion travelers announces UN-Tourism
Qatar Airways offers reduced timetable to over 60 destinations
WTTC global tourism reached record economic impact of 11 trillion in 2025
Marginal increase for New York City tourism in 2025
Hands In, UATP join forces for airline multi-card payments