People in the northern China province of Shanxi are calmly looking
forward to regaining the past prosperity with the lifting of the
World Health Organization (WHO) travel advisory against region
because of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).
"This is good news. Visitors from other parts of China will be
increasing," said a taxi driver in Taiyuan, capital of Shanxi, one
of the areas worst-hit by SARS in China.
Tang Hua, a clerk of the Dongfang International Travel Service,
said her agency was redoubling its efforts to encourage
tourists.
Though there were no celebrations on Saturday, there were more
automobiles in the streets and fewer people wearing masks.
Restaurants were packed with diners again.
One woman, surnamed Zhang, said, "It feels good to walk in the park
and take in fresh air at weekends."
Many restaurants had been closed for two months.
However, public vigilance was still high. A young woman working in
a state-owned enterprise said she still refused to eat in
restaurants for fear of catching SARS.
(Xinhua News Agency June 15, 2003)