Wu Bihu: Below the COVID-19 situation, the Ministry of culture and tourism needs to take the lead to jointly deal with the difficulties of tourism industry

People's Daily: For this COVID-19 situation, what will be the impact on the culture and tourism industry?

Wu Bihu: According to the development of the COVID-19 situation, various plans should be made in advance to provide various support policies for the injured tourism enterprises. Considering that most of the large scenic spots and airlines are state-owned enterprises, the ability to resist risks is relatively strong. However, many travel agencies are private enterprises, which need more support from all walks of life. Imagine, after the outbreak of COVID-19, a large number of tourism enterprises will cause the employment crisis of millions of people if they go bankrupt. In addition to travel agencies, the hotel industry has also suffered. Many hotels are closed. Hotels and accommodation are mostly private enterprises, involving a large number of employees.

People's Daily: Is the current policy of unsubscribing in the critical period of the COVID-19 reasonable? In addition, what other aspects should we pay attention to?

Wu Bihu: At present, it's a critical period for COVID-19 situation disposal. The policies of various emergency systems is certainly an extraordinary measure in an extraordinary period, which is beyond reproach. However, if it is only a matter of principle guidance and notice to the travel agency and other relevant enterprises to unsubscribe, there is no guidance on how to digest the prepaid costs of the travel agency, who will bear the relevant losses in each link chain of the travel industry, and what proportion of the losses each bears. With the development of the situation, it is bound to lead to a chaotic battle between travel agencies and tourists, hotels, airlines, scenic spots, which will cause greater losses to consumers, enterprises and the whole industry. This is the most urgent problem to be solved in the culture and tourism industry.

People's Daily: This series of problems you mentioned may not be solved by one Ministry of culture and tourism. Should other departments join forces?

Wu Bihu: Of course, in the recovery period after the COVID-19, the Ministry of culture and tourism needs to take the lead in solving the tourism industry that suffered the most from the huge losses. Most cultural departments, such as museums, have financial support for their undertakings and do not need to worry too much. However, tourism enterprises are very market-oriented. If only a simple order, all closed, will inevitably involve a series of follow-up operations, such as ticket refund, league withdrawal, unsubscribe, and so on, which will cause huge losses to the enterprise. After suffering from the spread of the COVID-19, it is even worse.

Expert profile

Wu Bihu

Wu Bihu is a member of Experts Committee of World Tourism Cities Federation, a professor at Peking University. His research mainly focuses on urban and regional tourism planning, the system of tourism research subjects, the ring and spatial structure of urban tourism development, landscape protection and tourism development, and tourism destination brand in historical regions.