This year's May Day holiday will last for five days and is not only a starting point for revitalizing the cultural and tourism markets, but also an opportunity to release the potential of domestic demand.

At present, issues such as imported asymptomatic infections increase the complexity of the situation, which highlights the fact that the tourism industry must adhere to the principle of epidemic prevention and control amid stimulating industrial development.

As a labor-intensive industry, tourism is likely to face a rebound of consumption during the holiday, which brings pressure in many aspects, such as catering, transportation and accommodations. This emphasizes the need for coordination and support from all governmental departments to avoid large gatherings and guarantee quality service.

To guide virus containment during the holiday, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the National Health Commission jointly unveiled a document on April 14, which advises tourist attractions to control the number of visitors to 30 percent of their maximum capacity. They also need to establish and improve their reservation system to organize people to sightsee at different times.

For consumers, they should comply with epidemic regulations not only for their safety but also for the overall prevention and control of the virus countrywide.

(This is an edited excerpt of an article originally published in Nanfang Daily on April 23)    

(Print Edition Title: Oppotunities and Challenges)