A total of 11 A-level scenic spots in Yangquan city in North China's Shanxi province have reopened to the public, according to the Yangquan culture and tourism bureau.

To do keep a tight grip on novel coronavirus prevention and control measures at tourist attractions throughout the city during the outbreak, the Yangquan culture and tourism bureau is guiding local counties and districts. It has urged scenic spots to conduct monitoring of staff health, epidemic prevention and control training and allocate special personnel to perform daily disinfections.

"During the epidemic period, we require scenic spots to limit the number of visitors and strengthen tourist management to prevent large gatherings," said Shi Xiaojun, head of the industry development section of the Yangquan culture and tourism bureau. 

The bureau organized more than 100 representatives -- of local culture and tourism companies, culture and tourism projects, demonstration villages, tourist developments and government officials – to undergo online training between Feb 24 and March 1. 

The training included lectures by figures in the tourism sector. Guidance was provided on developments in tourism demonstration areas and on new solutions to marketing cultural tourism -- offering culture and tourism companies opportunities to communicate and learn from industry peers, as well as to improve their own strengths and expand market share. 

To address funding difficulties being experienced by some companies, the bureau said has cooperated with the finance office and investment promotions bureau of the Yangquan government on introducing financial support policies, according to Shi. 

In addition, a government-bank-enterprise business matchmaking event -- targeting culture and tourism projects in the city -- will be held in the near future. Officials said this will establish a communications platform between culture and tourism enterprises and financial institutions and accelerate the return to business by the cultural and tourism industry.