Urumqi (China), July 11 (Xinhua) Authorities in northwest China’s Xinjiang province Saturday said that tourism and air transport have been affected by the July 5 ethnic violence that claimed at least 184 lives.
Authorities in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region said Saturday both tourism and air transport have been hurt by the July 5 riot that left 184 dead in Urumqi, the regional capital.

Since the violence began in Urumqi, about 1,450 tour groups cancelled their plans to visit Xinjiang, Inamu Nisteen, chief of regional tourism department, said at a press briefing.

They involved 84,940 travellers, including 4,396 tourists from overseas, he said.

At the moment, 54 tour groups, with 1,221 visitors, including 373 travellers from overseas, were still traveling in Xinjiang, the official said.

Guan Wuping, regional head of China’s General Administration of Civil Aviation, said the unrest harmed civilian air transport in the province gravely.

“Air travels have dropped significantly after the Urumqi riots,” said Guan. He did not give an exact figure.

Li Hui, a staff member of Xinjiang Kanghui Nature International Travel Agency, said since the riots, he had been busy with receiving clients who came to cancel their travel plans.

“We were expecting a rebound of the tourism industry from the financial crisis, but now we have to cancel the tour routes to Yili and Kashgar which we fear are under the potential danger of unrests,” Li said.

Cai Qinghua, general manager of Xinjiang Baijia Travel Company, said fewer tourists from overseas and outside Xinjiang were expected in the near future.

“Since the region boasts lots of scenic spots, we need confidence and wisdom to overcome the hard time,” he said.

Xinjiang covers about 1.66 million sq km, one-sixth of the Chinese land territory. It has a population of about 21 million people.

There are 14 airports in service in Xinjiang with the operation of 114 air routes.