Quake tourism puts off locals

Outsiders should pay fewer visits to the quake zone so that local people can find peace in their hearts and focus on rebuilding the town and their life, says an article on www.rednet.cn. Excerpts:

On May 2, the people of Yingxiu township, the epicenter of last year's massive Sichuan earthquake, danced around a bonfire to welcome the May Day holiday.

It is comforting to see that they have started a new life one year after the deadly earthquake destroyed their town. In the past one year, many donations have been made to the victims there and a lot of people have been greatly concerned about this town.

During the May Day holiday, many people visited this town to commemorate their dead relatives and friends. But the problem is that Yingxiu lacked the capacity to receive so many visitors. Normally, about 80 visitors would visit the local cemetery; now, the number had grown by over five times, paralyzing the local traffic and leaving local hotels over-booked.

The local government suggested that it would favor that there were no visits during the period when reconstruction of the town is underway. People can find other ways to observe the yearly anniversary of the deaths caused by the quake. Praying in the heart is enough to show sincerity in commemorating the dead.

The crowding of visitors in Yingxiu not only caused traffic jams but also polluted the environment. And, that's not good for the work of reconstruction. We should leave the local people to their pursuits and let them concentrate on the rebuilding of their town.

In addition, the frequent visit of outsiders to the quake zone may remind local people of the tragedy over and over again. The locals have already experienced the unprecedented horror and helplessness of the quake. Visitors may bring back the terrible memory to the minds of local residents. Leave them alone and give them some time to adjust to a new life after the quake.

(China Daily 05/06/2009 page8)