TRAVEL operators in China are waiving transaction commissions and service fees to help businesses on their platforms withstand the blow dealt by the novel coronavirus outbreak.

Shanghai-based travel operator Trip.com has launched a 1 billion yuan (US$140 million) as partner support fund and 10 billion yuan in loans for businesses on its platform, and exempted promotional fees and transaction commissions for group-tour providers.

It will also return platform service fees from at least the past three months to its tourism partners. And 8,000 outlets of Trip.com nationwide will have three months of management fees waived to relieve pressure on their operations.

Alibaba’s online travel unit Fliggy has announced it would waive six months of platform service fees for its travel partners in Wuhan, Hubei Province, the epicenter of the outbreak, and three months of fees for partners in other areas.

A 12-month loan with a discounted interest rate will be available to businesses on the platform, and commission fees will be exempted for hotels providing free accommodation to medical workers in Wuhan, Fliggy said.

The Spring Festival is traditionally peak season for Chinese travelers, but the country’s tourism industry has encountered a heavy setback from the suspension of tours.