Outbound tourism slumps over flu fears

The spread of the A/H1N1 flu around the world is having a big impact on China's outbound tourism industry. Many travel agencies in Beijing and Shanghai have suspended trips to flu-hit countries.

Since Japan announced emergency measures to contain the A/H1-N1 flu, the country is no longer a popular destination for Chinese tourists.

In Shanghai, nearly 40 people cancelled their trips to Japan in one day.

Travel agents say avoiding Japanese regions badly hit by the flu is not enough to reassure potential travelers.

Liu Xiaojun, Sales manager of Shanghai Youth Travel Agency, said, "Currently, simply changing the tour routes is not working. Customers can't predict where the flu will go next, so they are delaying their trips or even canceling them."

Meanwhile, more than half of all Chinese tours to North America have been canceled, and the number of travelers to Europe and Southeast Asia is down 40 percent on the same period last year.

But not everyone who cancels their trip can get a full refund.

Customers who have already got their visas or booked plane tickets must pay for that.

Tourism industry insiders are still confident about the outbound tourism market in summer, when hot weather is expected to curb the spread of the flu.