Chinese tourists told to take care when swimming and snorkelling abroad
Nearly 700 Chinese travellers were killed while they were overseas last year – one-third of them during water-based activities, foreign ministry says
With more Chinese tourists expected to travel abroad for this year’s Lunar New Year holiday, diplomats are worried about their safety – especially those who want to go swimming and snorkelling in waters far from home.
Nearly 700 Chinese citizens were killed while they were overseas last year – and more that one-third of them died during water-based activities while on holiday, such as swimming and snorkelling, a senior consular protection official from the foreign ministry said.
“Compatriots heading abroad, especially those going to Southeast Asian countries, must pay special attention if they’re in the water,” Yang Shu, deputy director of the ministry’s emergency call centre for consular protection and services, told state broadcaster CCTV on Friday.
Yang made the comments after it was announced that seven Chinese drowned in Thailand in January alone.
“Tourists must make sure they have the skills to take on water sports like snorkelling and they need to be well equipped to avoid accidents,” he said.
