With the Year of the Ox on the horizon, Jimo ancient city in Qingdao, Shandong province has taken on a new look. [Photo/dzng.com]

A teleconference on the local culture and tourism market during the upcoming Spring Festival was held at the Shandong Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism on Feb 7 in Jinan, the provincial capital.

During the meeting, it was stated that this year's Spring Festival will be the first to be celebrated under normalized epidemic prevention and control measures. Shandong will launch a series of measures to ensure a smooth, safe Spring Festival for the public.

Local authorities have said that efforts will be made to ensure market services are available during the Spring Festival holiday, to enrich the supply of various cultural and tourism products, and to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Safety on production lines, at tourism facilities, on roads, and during special activities will be emphasized throughout the holiday period.

All passengers are required to wear face masks, have their temperatures taken, and present their health codes when entering airports, railway stations, and bus terminals.

In addition, special emergency task forces will be established by local transportation departments to help handle emergencies during the travel rush. They will work with police, disease prevention and control personnel, and relevant departments to help with investigations and strengthen pandemic prevention and control efforts.

Tourism attractions and indoor entertainment venues such as theaters and cinemas must limit visitors to 75 percent of maximum capacity over the holiday.