The epidemic also slowed the industry's growth in the six months
to 6.4 percent, 10.1 percentage points lower than a year
earlier.
However, the China Cuisine Association remains confident of a
fast growth for the whole year as the catering sector has been
recovering since late May and is expected to achieve a total
turnover of 570 billion yuan (US$69 billion), compared with 580
billion yuan predicted earlier this year.
As of early July, the daily sales of local restaurants returned
to some 80 percent of the normal amount, and the growth momentum
remains strong, according to the association.
SARS has forced local restaurants to pay greater attention to
sanitary issues, omit dishes made from wild animals, and try to
keep balanced nutrition, which also helps attract increasing
numbers of customers.
(Xinhua News Agency August 3, 2003)