Chinese tourists have long been frustrated with the different prices offered by the same hotels and service providers for the same experience. Now the industry’s regulator is taking action to control irregular pricing of tourist products.

China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism is soliciting public opinions on a draft rule for online tourist services, banning companies from using big data and other technological means to set differentiated prices for the same products or services targeting individuals with different consumption habits.

The regulation also would ban misleading advertising, the offering of unreasonably low-priced tourism activities or deleting or blocking users’ online reviews of tourism products and services.

Violators on price discrimination practices could face fines of as much as 500,000 yuan ($70,000), according to the draft.

The public can submit opinions before Nov. 10, the ministry said in a statement on its website.

Contact reporter Denise Jia (huijuanjia@caixin.com)