China's tourism industry, hard hit by SARS, is set to suffer its first setback since 1989.

Officials at a recent tourism symposium said it was impossible for the industry to grow 8.5 percent and reach a gross income of 600 billion yuan (US$72 billion) in 2003, a target set at the beginning of the year.

A total economic loss of 276.8 billion yuan (US$33 billion) was estimated for 2003, mainly due to the SARS outbreak in the country, according to the National Tourism Administration.

China's tourism industry suffered a complete standstill from April to May when the SARS outbreak peaked.

The industry began to gradually recover in late June when the World Health Organization lifted its traveling advisory against Beijing on June 24, the last city on the Chinese mainland remaining on the list of SARS-affected areas.

(Xinhua News Agency July 25, 2003)