Tourism Recovery Assessment of Sichuan after the Wenchuan Earthquake

The Wenchuan Earthquake of 8.0 on the Richter scale struck western Sichuan, China on May 12, 2008. The earthquake has negatively influenced the development of tourism industry in Sichuan. The recovery period of domestic tourism was ten months, while inbound tourism was still under recovery. The losses of inbound tourists and domestic tourists were 2.7millions (till May, 2010) and 24.6 million, respectively. The economic losses of foreign exchanges and domestic tourists´ expenditures were $706.8 millions (till May, 2010) and 27.2 billion yuan RMB, respectively. Tourist attraction business, travel agencies and accommodations have not yet returned to pre-earthquake level. At present, tourism in Deyang, Mianyang, Guangyuan, Neijiang, Aba and Ganzi have not revived. Tourism of Chengdu and Leshan declined in 2008, but re-boomed in 2009. Other sub-regions in Sichuan gained benefits from the earthquake and witnessed the increment of tourists and revenue.