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)