Sixty tourists from the Republic of Korea (ROK) arrived in Beijing on Monday, becoming the first group of overseas visitors since the World Health Organization removed Beijing from its list of SARS-infected areas and lifted its travel advisory against the city on June 24.

The group, consisting of representatives from 45 ROK tourism agencies as well as some reporters, came to Beijing to learn about the post-SARS tourism market in Beijing.

The ROK travelers were presented with flowers, souvenirs and pamphlets, in Chinese, English, Japanese and Korean, regarding SARS-free travel in Beijing, upon their arrival at the airport.

Yu Changjiang, director of the Beijing Tourism Bureau, extended a warm welcome to the ROK visitors, saying that tourism in China's capital will recover and Beijing will ensure a healthy and safe environment for tourists.

Kim Seong Hoon, one of the tourists, was deeply impressed with the welcome ceremony. He previously made several business trips to Beijing as a representative of a tourism agency in Pusan.

"It is safe to visit Beijing now," he said, adding that he would inform his clients about what he experienced in the city.

(Xinhua News Agency July 1, 2003)