 Over 90 Million May Day Travelers Expected |
|
More than 90 million tourists were expected to travel during the seven-day holiday that starts on May 1.
Tourism related industries expected to reap some 35 billion yuan (US$4.2 billion) from countrywide travel, said Zhang Xiqin, the deputy director with China's National Tourism Administration (CNTA).
Yet the optimistic forecast was made despite SARS reports. To ensure both domestic and overseas tourists enjoy a pleasurable May Day break, Zhu Qingsheng, vice minister of Health said earlier this week that China is doing all it can to contain the disease.
"Local authorities have been told to take appropriate measures to prevent possible virus transmissions and make the May Day holiday as safe as possible," Zhu told a news conference in Malaysia.
Railway stations and airports have been ordered to check the temperatures of all passengers from Beijing and Anhui.
Zhong Nanshan, director of the Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Diseases, told local media on Wednesday that travelers do not need to worry. Many citizens interviewed stayed calm and expressed the odd SARS case will not spoil eagerly anticipated travel.
|
