Getting going again

All vehicles are meticulously sterilized. Guides, drivers and passengers have their temperatures taken. And medical and disinfection supplies are prepared.

E-commerce giant Alibaba's travel-business arm, Fliggy, is offering online booking for over 20,000 hotels that follow stringent sterilization procedures and scenic spots.

Beijing-based online travel-service provider Qunar has initiated a safety-service commitment that ensures all service providers finish 14-day quarantines and update their health information daily afterward. All personnel have also received epidemic-prevention and safety training.

These safe tours are crucial to rebooting tourism since deals largely determine travelers' decisions, Trip.com's big data lab's chief researcher Peng Liang says.

Some attractions have used livestreams to market themselves and offer vicarious travel experiences.

Tens of thousands of people watched the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda's livestream in late March.

Over 150,000 netizens watched a livestream by Haichang Ocean Park on Fliggy in Shanghai in March. It helped double bookings for the park during the Qingming holiday.

Peng believes COVID-19's impact on tourism is temporary. Travel demand remains. And the evolution could create new opportunities.

Contact the writer at yangfeiyue@chinadaily.com.cn