First cross-provincial tour group visits Hechi

A tourist from Guangdong province takes a photo with members of the Yao ethnic group. [Photo by Wu Mingjiang/gx.people.com.cn]

Hechi welcomed its first batch of cross-provincial tour groups since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic on July 18. It was the first time that the city welcomed such groups after the Ministry of Culture and Tourism approved cross-province tourism for low risk provinces and autonomous regions on July 14.

This group of tourists consisted of nearly 450 people from Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Foshan, Zhaoqing, and other places in Guangdong province. During their four-day special folk customs experience tour, tourists will visit the Hongshui River Scenic Area in Dahua Yao autonomous county, Baimo Cave in Bama Yao autonomous county, as well as Geyasigu Scenic Area in Nandan county.

On the evening of July 14, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism issued a notice to announce that travel agencies and online tourism companies can resume the operation of cross-provincial tour groups with the approval of the local government, based on the implementation of effective COVID-19 epidemic prevention and control measures by related departments.

Hechi acted in a timely manner to launch high-quality tourism routes, adhering to the principles of normal COVID-19 prevention and control, as well as orderly resumption. Travel agencies are required to arrange tourism activities reasonably by making appointments and staggering visit times to tourism sites to avoid overcrowding.

Hechi has maintained close contact with well-known travel agencies inside and outside of Guangxi, as well as planned related work in advance. After the resumption of cross-provincial tourism business, the Hechi Tourism Association strengthened the exchange of tourists with tourism associations and travel agencies from other provinces to restore the cultural tourism industry as soon as possible.