Nearly 70 percent of China's scenic spots have reopened to visitors as the May Day holiday approaches, and a series of measures will be taken to address epidemic risks, Chinese Minister of Culture and Tourism Luo Shugang said at a press conference on Thursday.
Efforts to ensure tourism safety during holiday
Tourist attractions across the country are asked to implement a reservation system to receive visitors at staggered times while controlling the daily number of visitors to no more than 30 percent of their maximum capacity during the holiday, Luo said.
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Targeted measures will be put in place where tourists tend to gather at such locations as restaurants and entrances, so as to avoid mass gatherings and keep social distancing, the official said, adding that tour routes are also suggested to be optimized.
Ventilation and sterilization in and around enclosed buildings, public areas, playground equipment and catering places should be conducted in a timely manner, together with strict epidemic control measures for visitors, including checking body temperatures and health QR codes.
"Safety is the bottom line of the tourism industry. Without safety, there will be no healthy tourism. During travel rush seasons every year, the ministry always puts tourism safety as our top priority," said Luo.
Also, tourism sites have been asked to have emergency response plans in place and conduct drills to enhance the capability to deal with emergencies.
People urged to stay vigilant for COVID-19
During the holiday, Chinese tourists are urged to make reservations before visiting tourist sites, report their health information, have their body temperatures checked and keep a distance from each other. Wearing face masks, washing hands and dining separately is also advised.
This year's May Day holiday in China runs from May 1 to 5.
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(With input from agencies)
(Cover: Visitors have their temperatures checked before entering the Hengdian World Studios in east China's Zhejiang Province, April 29, 2020. /VCG)