On April 20, a 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck Lushan County in Ya'an, Sichuan. According to information released by the Sichuan Provincial Tourism Bureau, as of 15:50 on the 20th, all group tourists had been evacuated to safe areas, with no reports of casualties. All tour groups planning to visit Ya'an in the near future have been canceled. Reporters from major travel agencies in Beijing learned that since Ya'an is not a major destination for Sichuan tourism, no incidents involving endangered tourists occurred at the time of the earthquake. Some travel agencies have activated emergency response plans to ensure the safety of tourists.
According to a spokesperson from CYTS, at the time of the Lushan earthquake, one of their four-person tour groups was visiting Jiuzhaigou. Immediately after the quake, CYTS contacted the group to ensure their safety, and the group returned to Beijing that afternoon. Currently, CYTS has no tour products involving Ya'an. Considering uncertainties such as aftershocks, the company has activated its “Major Disaster Safety Commitment” mechanism to safeguard the safety of tourists traveling in Sichuan and will provide full refunds for any upcoming groups. For tourists currently in Sichuan, CYTS advises: if you encounter danger, group tourists should follow the guide’s instructions, who will coordinate with local reception resources to ensure safety; independent travelers who purchased customized packages can contact the agency’s emergency contact for assistance; and fully independent travelers should promptly get in touch with local disaster relief authorities.
CTS also immediately activated an emergency response plan. At the time of the disaster, neither the head office nor its subsidiaries had any tour groups in the affected area, and there are currently no plans to send groups to Ya'an. CTS stated that it will closely monitor the impact on tourism in the disaster zone and adjust group itineraries as needed. CTT indicated that as it is not yet peak tourism season in Sichuan, there have been no cases of tourists being stranded. Yang Yang, general manager of Beijing Spring and Autumn Travel Agency, said that the agency’s Sichuan tour products are mainly focused on the Chengdu–Jiuzhaigou–Mount Emei–Leshan route, which has been largely unaffected by the earthquake. As a result, tourism activities along this route are proceeding as normal. The agency is still accepting bookings for these destinations, but will make adjustments at any time based on changes in the safety situation in the region.