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)