Sixty South Korean travel industry executives became the first tour group to visit Beijing yesterday since the World Health Organisation (WHO) lifted its Sars travel advisory last week.
At 1.55pm, Air China flight 130 from Pusan brought the group to the Beijing Capital International Airport, where the travellers stood around the baggage carousels for a 45-minute private ceremony held by the China Youth Travel Service.
The WHO lifted Beijing's travel advisory on June 24 and the central government started trying to entice organised travel groups back to the capital. The tourism sector was hard hit after the travel advisory was imposed two months ago.
'Of course, we're really happy,' said Wei Wei, a China Youth Travel Service employee who was at the airport to greet the arriving guests. 'We certainly hope to see more moments like this.'
South Korean travel agents spearheaded yesterday's trip after deciding there was no further danger from Sars in Beijing, said Kim Seong-hoon, president of Leaders Tour in Pusan.
'The travel agents don't worry, but some other people in South Korea think China is still a problem,' Mr Kim said. He said he was working to persuade others to return.