Boosted security measures urged in Yunnan

BEIJING - After a knife attack in southwest China's Kunming railway station on March 1, the Yunnan Provincial Tourism Development Committee urged tourism departments to take strict measures to boost security assurance.

Yu Fan, deputy director of the committee, called for realizing the gravity and complexity of Yunnan's anti-terrorism situation and further refining emergency response plans for violent terrorist events.

He also required tourism administrative departments at all levels, travel agencies, A-level scenic spots, tourist accommodation providers, tour bus companies, and tourist shopping centers to carry out safety education and apply strict safety protection measures.

Yu asked for strict implementation of emergency on-duty and case reporting systems.

According to the tourism development committee, the attack has brought limited impact to the province's tourism market.

Six domestic tour groups canceled their routes in Kunming on March 3, accounting for one percent of all domestic tour groups in Yunnan on that day. There have been no reports of canceled trips since three suspects involved in the terrorist attack were captured yesterday.

The province's railway stations, airports, and passenger transport terminals have beefed up security protection measures, while public security organs and armed forces strengthened patrols.

Order was restored in Kunming on Sunday, with train arrivals resuming after three trains carrying 3,000 passengers were affected on Saturday night. About 60,000 passengers left the station on Sunday, higher than the 59,000 on Saturday. All local middle and primary schools opened as normal on Monday with enhanced security.

The knife-wielding attackers slashed frantically at crowds at a railway station in Kunming on Saturday, killing 29 people and injuring 143.

Police shot and killed four of them and captured an injured female attacker at the scene on Saturday night.

The health authority said 20 of the 143 injured in Kunming are still in critical condition.

According to the tourism development committee, the province received 240 million domestic tourists and over five million overseas tourists last year. Year-on-year growth climbed to 22.1 percent for domestic tourists and 16.5 percent for overseas tourists.