Tourist flight lands in Hubei, first since outbreak

A chartered flight carrying 102 tourists from the Ningxia Hui autonomous region left Yinchuan International Airport and landed at Shiyan Wudangshan Airport in Hubei province at around 2 pm on Monday.

The flight, arranged by China International Travel Agency's Ningxia branch, was the first interprovincial tourism flight to arrive in Hubei province since the coronavirus outbreak earlier this year. Hubei was hit hardest in China.

During the five-day excursion, the tourists are scheduled to visit Happy Valley theme park, Wudang Mountain, Shennongjia Forest, the Nanyan and Zixiao palaces and the Shennong Altar.

Officials from the local culture and tourism bureau in Shiyan welcomed the group at the airport.

Interprovincial tourism restrictions were lifted by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in July. As part of the efforts to boost to local tourism, the Shiyan government will give cash prizes up to 30,000 yuan ($4,398) to tourists who come to visit on chartered flights or special trains.

Travel agencies in Shiyan are actively approaching other agencies in the country to build itineraries.