Shenyang launches policies to support tourism development

The culture, tourism, radio and television bureau and the finance bureau of Shenyang -- capital of Northeast China’s Liaoning province -- have jointly launched 10 policies, to support the city’s tourism sector development in the face of the novel coronavirus epidemic, according to local reports.

The policies are detailed as follows:

1. Organize temporary repayments of travel agency guarantee funds. Before March 10, 2020, 20 percent of travel service quality deposits will be temporarily refunded to travel agencies, while deposits frozen by court orders are not within the scope of the measure.

2. Extend tax carry-forward period. For tourism companies suffering losses in 2020 due to the epidemic, the maximum tax carry-forward period is extended from five to eight years.

3. Postpone payments of social insurance premiums. For enterprises in severely impacted industries, such as tourism and ice and snow sports. After receiving confirmation by the relevant authorities, the paying period of social insurance premiums during the epidemic can be extended to the end of June. No late fees will be levied during the holdover period.

4. Reduce the burden of corporate unemployment insurance premiums. During the epidemic prevention and control period, tourism companies that have participated in unemployment insurance in Shenyang -- and have paid unemployment insurance premiums for more than 12 months in full from Jan 1, 2019 and who do not lay off staff members or try to reduce the number of layoffs -- the city will refund 80 percent of the actual total unemployment insurance amount of the previous year.

5. Postpone payments of basic medical insurance premiums. Insured tourism enterprises and individuals who cannot pay basic medical insurance premiums on time due to the epidemic, after agreement with medical insurance and tax authorities, can apply for extension of payments, to be extended until March 31, 2020. Corporate and personal treatment will not be affected.

6. Allow small and medium-sized tourism enterprises to reduce or defer tax payments. Tourism enterprises that have special difficulties and cannot pay taxes on time, can apply to the tax authorities for delays in tax payments in accordance with the law, up to a maximum of three months.

7. Alleviate the pressure on energy costs of small and medium-sized tourism enterprises. Small and medium-sized tourism enterprises affected by the epidemic and facing temporary operating difficulties -- unable to pay their water, electricity and gas bills on time -- shall apply to relevant authorities and postpone payment within a maximum of three months.

8. Subsidize losses of chartered airplanes. For losses due to suspended or stranded charter flights, a one-time subsidy will be given at 30 percent of the loss amount.

9. Subsidize the losses of ice and snow enterprises. For companies with investment of more than 10 million yuan ($1.44 million) or inclusive, a 30 percent subsidy will be given, up to 3 million yuan. For companies whose investment is more than 5 million yuan (inclusive) and less than 10 million yuan, the subsidy will be 20 percent, up to 1 million yuan; and for those whose investment is less than 5 million yuan, a 10 percent subsidy will be given, up to 500,000 yuan.

10. New liquidity loans for travel agencies will be subsidized at 2 percent of the loan amount for a period of one year.