China's booming travel industry has its downsides, not least the length of security queues. On October 14, Guangzhou-Baiyun International Airport, a booming hub in the southern province of Guangdong, officially added men-only security lines in order to help speed travellers' passage. The move was hailed online, especially by male travelers.
Ycwb.com, a Southern Chinese website, reported that the move was an attempt to improve the efficiency of security checks and respect some foreign customs. Normal security lines have both male and female guards, but female travelers are only frisked by female guards. "When female travelers pass through, the male guards just wait around. That's not an efficient use of labor. Men-only lines tackle this problem, free up staff, and increase efficiency," ycwb.com noted.
The head of security at Baiyun said that the move also took into account foreign tourists' needs. "Setting up men-only lines serves some foreigners' specific customs or habits. For instance, some male tourists are sensitive about being touched by women," Sohu News reported.
Mr Chen, a traveler passing through Baiyun, told ycwb.com that in the past Baiyun had established "women-only" lines but that men also needed convenience sometimes too. Another traveler, Mr Wu, said that men take less baggage and are less fussy about their stuff, and that gender-segregated lines are useful and move faster.
The reporter from ycwb.com found a marked improvement in security thanks to the measures. Lines for women, for travelers running late, as well as long-standing ideas like 'no baggage' lines and priority lines meet different needs for tourists and show a commitment to service, the site reported. Security staff at Baiyun added that they would keep improving security checks.
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