The current severe drought is putting off tourists visiting Guizhou and Yunnan provinces. Chen Xiwei, an analyst with Guotai Jun’an Securities, said, "Guilin is well-known for its landscape, so its tourism industry is vulnerable to the impactof the severe drought compared with Yunnan Province.
"It is probable that national travelers will switch their trips to China’s west and east if the drought continues in the southwest."
The drought has depleted water levels in Yunnan Province’s famous Lijiang, a mountain town known for the many small streams that flow through the cobblestone-paved city center. That has caused average travel time in the area to be shortened by half and ticket prices at the city’s different attractions to drop.
Global Times reported the drought has also had a serious impact on the tourism industry of Guizhou Province.
The flow of Huangguoshu Waterfall, the biggest waterfall in China, has dropped by roughly 75% as a result of the drought, and tourist numbers are down 20%, with several travel agencies canceling plans for April tours.