In recent days, however, Chinese tourists have received a different kind of greeting, as fears rise over the global spread of the deadly coronavirus that originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan. The rapid surge has meant a particularly dramatic increase of Chinese tourists in nearby Asian countries, and businesses and governments have been eager to cater to them. (Victoria Kim / Los Angeles Times)This week in Myeongdong, a shopping district in central Seoul popular with Chinese tourists, Chinese-language signs advertised hair treatments, beauty products and street food. “The Chinese market is very important for the domestic tourism sector.”Indonesia’s tourism minister also urged his fellow countrymen to welcome Chinese tourists. Painting all Chinese tourists in a suspicious light could result in a backlash when tourism rebounds, he said.

Source: Los Angeles Times January 31, 2020 18:56 UTC