Xinjiang tourism severely stricken by needle attacks

The industry of tourism in Xinjiang, China has been hit hard again by a series of needle attacks in Urumqi, its capital.

The riot on 5 July killed close to 200 people, mostly composed of ethnic Han people and greatly affected the sector.

According to Chi Chongqing, chief of the tourism bureau in Xinjiang, the immediate recuperation of tourism in the province has been due to the subsidies of the government after the incident.

The high-class hotels’ average occupancy rate had mounted to 85% before the mass assembly of residents in dispute against needle attacks in the middle of anger and panic. The demonstrations left 14 injured and four dead.

Chi said that after the restored tension, the occupancy rate of the hotels has plummeted to about 25%. A total number of 76 tourist groups cancelled trips to Xinjiang which should have involved 3,358 travellers in September.

In order to aid the industry of tourism after the riot in Urumqi, the regional government apportioned five million yuan or $730,000 to finance travel agencies who fixed up groups of tourists to Xinjiang starting from July to August.