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Earthquake aftershocks to Sichuan

(China Daily)
Updated: 2008-05-26 11:32

Tourism

For tourists and visitors who may have planned to visit the world heritage sites of Qingcheng Mountain and Dujiangyan irrigation system, one sight they will not be able to see is the Erwang Temple. The Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) wooden complex was leveled when the earthquake jolted the area on May 12.

Erwang Temple is not the only tourism destination in Sichuan province that was severely damaged by the earthquake. According to the State Administration of Cultural Relics, 45 national level and 59 provincial level cultural relics have been damaged, some of which were completely destroyed. That doesn't count the natural scenery blighted by the quake and landslides.

It's a crushing blow to the province's tourism sector. Endowed with rich natural and cultural tourist attractions, Sichuan is the only province in the country whose tourism revenue makes up more than 8 percent of the provincial GDP. Last year, Sichuan received 1.86 billion domestic tourists and 1.71 million tourists from abroad, reaching a total turnover of 121.7 billion yuan.

Zhang Gu, director of the Sichuan tourism bureau, says that direct economic losses in the tourism sector caused by the earthquake are estimated to exceed 50 billion yuan. Some of the travel agencies described the impact as "devastating", as the 21st Century Business Herald reported.

The chaos of disrupted and destroyed public facilities such as transportation and communication systems currently makes traveling in Sichuan province almost impossible.

On the day of the earthquake, the China National Tourism Administration issued an emergency notice asking tourists not to visit or pass through the quake-hit areas, and travel agencies to halt their business in the region temporarily.

"The Jiuzhai-route will suffer the most severe loss from the quake," says tourism analyst, who adds that 60 to 70 percent of travelers visiting Sichuan province choose the route before the earthquake.

"But now the business has been halted, this means the entire tourism sector's income will remain zero," the analyst says.

Tang Jian, an analyst from SinoLink Securities, predicts that inbound travel to Sichuan province is likely to reduce significantly in the short term for both infrastructure shortage and mental fears leftover from the earthquake.

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