Tourism at risk over virus fears says diplomat

By FRANCESCA MOLD political reporter

New Zealand's tourism industry will suffer if Asian visitors are shut out because of fears about a mystery pneumonia virus, says China's Ambassador.

The Chinese Embassy in Wellington took the rare step of calling a press conference yesterday after a visiting delegation was banned from a sister-city conference in Masterton because residents were afraid they would spread severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars).

Ambassador Chen Mingming said the ban would not affect China's relationship with the NZ Government.

"But I suspect it will have an adverse impact on the tourism between our two countries," he said. "People feel that the Chinese will be picked out for discrimination."

Mr Chen said 80,000 Chinese tourists visited last year, up 45 per cent from 2001. The Chinese saw New Zealand as hospitable and friendly.

"So obviously, people do not come to expect this kind of treatment."

The Masterton District Council and Sister Cities New Zealand board said the Chinese delegation was asked to stay away because the community was anxious about Sars.

It is understood hotels had refused to accommodate the 43 Chinese delegates.

Sister Cities NZ president Jeremy Dwyer said he was devastated to have to issue the request at the 11th hour.

"Sars is a unique, difficult and sensitive issue which has come on our event like an express train with no lights," he said.

Foreign Affairs Minister Phil Goff said the exclusion of the Chinese delegates was a mistake.

And the ban drew an angry reaction from Auckland City Council, which immediately withdrew from the conference.

Auckland is the sister city of Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong province, where it is believed the flu-like Sars virus originated.

The head of Auckland's delegation, Mark Donnelly, said it was unacceptable that delegates were told of the decision only when they arrived on Wednesday.

"To say at this late stage, 'We have changed our minds, you are not welcome here, go home', is not only inexcusable but rude and inappropriate," he said.

Mr Chen said he had met the delegates and they were all healthy.

"We understand that sometimes people get panicked. But we regret what has happened to the delegation. We do not believe they deserve to be treated this way."

One of the delegates, Li Xiaolin, vice-president of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, said members of the group were upset they would not be attending the conference, which was designed to promote friendship and understanding.

But she said the delegation would continue with its visit to Rotorua and Auckland.

Mrs Li hoped the ban was just a "brief episode" in the two countries' relationship.

"We still cherish this friendship."

Mr Chen was heartened by the New Zealand public's reaction to the ban.

The embassy had been flooded with calls from people apologising for Masterton's attitude and had received many messages of support from the local Chinese community.