Travel agencies initiate emergency plans after Hualien earthquake

Travel agencies and online travel operators have initiated emergency procedures following the 6.5-magnitude earthquake in Taiwan's Hualien County with an itinerary adjustment and refund plan.

Tourists who have already booked hotels in Hualien on Ctrip between Wednesday and February 28 are able to cancel their orders and receive a full refund, Ctrip said.

People with car rental orders in Hualien before February 13 are also able to get a full refund if they want to cancel, it said.

Ctrip has more than 3,000 tourists, including groups and independent travelers, in Taiwan. It is contacting its tour guides in Hualien and has ordered them to adjust schedules based on the situation.

Shanghai Spring Tour has four tour groups with 76 tourists and 46 independent tourists in Taiwan, and all of them are safe. The travel agency has adjusted tour routes involving scenic spots in Hualien for the following tour groups to ensure safety as some structures and roads were broken, it said.

Online travel operator Tuniu has also promised full refunds for tourists who want to cancel already booked hotel or car rental orders on it, and it is working on the arrangement of schedule changing by discussing with tourists involved.