Sixty tourists from the Republic of Korea (ROK) arrived in Beijing
on Monday, becoming the first group of overseas visitors since the
World Health Organization removed Beijing from its list of
SARS-infected areas and lifted its travel advisory against the city
on June 24.
The group, consisting of representatives from 45 ROK tourism
agencies as well as some reporters, came to Beijing to learn about
the post-SARS tourism market in Beijing.
The ROK travelers were presented with flowers, souvenirs and
pamphlets, in Chinese, English, Japanese and Korean, regarding
SARS-free travel in Beijing, upon their arrival at the airport.
Yu
Changjiang, director of the Beijing Tourism Bureau, extended a warm
welcome to the ROK visitors, saying that tourism in China's capital
will recover and Beijing will ensure a healthy and safe environment
for tourists.
Kim Seong Hoon, one of the tourists, was deeply impressed with the
welcome ceremony. He previously made several business trips to
Beijing as a representative of a tourism agency in Pusan.
"It is safe to visit Beijing now," he said, adding that he would
inform his clients about what he experienced in the city.
(Xinhua News Agency July 1, 2003)