Travel platforms in China are taking various measures to boost business despite a short-term negative impact on the sector brought by the pneumonia breakout.

A docent of Zhaojun Museum in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, introduces the museum over a 5G live stream on March 7. (Photo by Ding Genhou/People’s Daily)

The online travel agency Ctrip has opened nearly 2,000 training courses to its partners, tens of millions of professionals in the industry and tourism colleges across the country, calling on the sector to have training online and at home, conserve energy and reserve talents.

Another online travel agency, Tuniu, has also launched over 1,000 courses and hosted several online competitions to improve its employees’ skills and sense of competition.

Meanwhile, the two platforms, along with online tourism service provider Mafengwo and Alibaba’s tourism platform Fliggy, have given users the chance to visit scenic spots through audio guides and live broadcasts.

As more promising signs signal progress China’s anti-virus fight is moving in the right direction, the country’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism asked scenic areas nationwide to reopen to the public while continuing to implement epidemic control measures.

Data from Ctrip show that more than 1,600 scenic attractions in China have reopened to the public, including over 40 percent of 5A scenic areas.

Several online travel agencies have already launched their recovery plans and promotional activities.

Ctrip has issued a recovery plan to pre-sell its products for future trips. Another online travel service provider, Tongcheng-Elong, has formed an alliance with cities nationwide to provide free tourism promotion services while launching pre-sale products and promotional activities. Other than this, Tuniu has invited tourism departments and scenic attractions across the country to share resources and channels to boost the recovery of the sector.

Travel agencies should implement their recovery plans step by step, focusing on differentiated services, so as to seize new opportunities, said Bai Kai, dean of the School of Geography and Tourism in Shaanxi Normal University in Xi’an in northwest China’s Shaanxi province.