The China National Tourism Administration (CNTA) has ordered all travel agencies suspend organized Chinese tour groups to Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand.

The World Health Organization (WHO) had declared these three countries as areas infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), said a CNTA official.

Citing SARS, some countries had stopped issuing visas to Chinese tourists or adopted special restricted inspection measures for Chinese tourist groups, which led to disruption of people's travel plans and the normal business of Chinese travel agencies.

The CNTA would make a further announcement when allowing the resumption of trips to the three countries.

Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand were among the first nations to gain Authorized Destination Status (ADS). Chinese tourists became a main source of their inbound travelers.

(Xinhua News Agency April 12, 2003)