All Shanghai tourists safe in Sri Lanka
All Shanghai tourists in Sri Lanka are believed to be safe following Sunday’s string of explosions there. Based on concerns for travelers’ safety, travel agencies in Shanghai are offering full refunds for those who have already paid for tour packages.
More than 200 people were killed and 450 more were injured in a series of explosions targeting hotels in Colombo and two coastal resorts, and churches holding Easter Sunday services.
Shanghai Spring Tour has initiated an emergency response and cancelled all downtown sightseeing arrangements in Sri Lanka. It has also canceled accommodation in Colombo and all tours of Colombo. All agency guests are safe.
Shanghai-based online travel operator Ctrip said on Sunday afternoon that one of its tour guides had his tour group stay inside a hotel restaurant in Colombo to avoid any danger.
"I led my guests to seek shelter at the restaurant as blasts were continuing" said Zheng Jie, a tour guide who was leading a group of nine tourists from Shanghai, Hubei and Nanjing.
"Our original schedule was to take a train for a sightseeing tour of Colombo in the morning, but when we arrived at the railway station, we learned of the blasts and the train was cancelled," he said.
"We took a bus to the restaurant, and did not dare go to any other places," he said.
Ctrip is providing full refunds for travelers who have booked organized tours, individual tours and local tour packages to Sri Lanka between Sunday and Wednesday.
It has reminded tourists to avoid areas with big crowds such as railway stations and airports.
Lvmama, another Shanghai-based travel website, said it was adjusting its schedule for group travelers.