Dupont, Regional Manager of China West Region of supermarket chain Carrefour, described how there was no option but to carry on with business as usual, while doing the best they could as a corporation to alleviate the suffering of the victims.

Carrefour was hit hard. Its suppliers from the local area had their produce obliterated. About 400 of their local staff were directly affected by the disaster. Yet the store did its best to contribute to the appeal, lowering its prices, donating noodles, bread and water, and outlining a plan to donate part of its national profits to the recovery. Yet, as Dupont says, "we are also the consumer." Carrefour clearly considers itself a citizen of the locality. Its confidence is not rocked, and it intends to go ahead with the opening of five new stores in the Sichuan vicinity in the next few years.

The tourism bureau wishes to assuage peoples' fears and encourage visitors back to the area. Just as the panda breeding center has always dealt capably with the problems of the endangered bear's survival, with similar care and nurturing paid to the local economy, the people of Sichuan will prosper again. The hospitality of those Sichuan people is really as rich and generous as its legendary food. One heart-warming aspect of this tragedy is that a people who have lost so much are still prepared to give so much to attract people to their beautiful home city.