MONTEREY PARK, Calif. — Anthony Ng and Ray Mak along with other travel agents in the industry did not expect an outbreak that would cause so much fear that it would hurt their business.

China announced there are more than 28,000 cases of coronavirus and more than 560 of those resulted in deaths. Scientists are reportedly coming up with a new name for this virus and are looking into a cure.

While that continues to happen and the cases increase, businesses around the globe that work with Chinese businesses are taking hits. 

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“In January alone, we canceled over 50 bookings. We’re also canceling throughout June right now,” said Anthony Ng, co-owner of Elite 5 Star Travel.

Ng and Mak opened their business in Monterey Park 11 years ago. They wanted to be their own bosses and go into an industry that many people didn’t think about entering. Their office is located in the heart of the San Gabriel Valley. 

As the fear around the coronavirus increases, more people are opting to cancel their trips to China and stay home instead.

“We have political unrests, accidents, natural disasters, but the major airline carriers would never cancel flights. They would continue to operate their usual routes. This is probably the first time in aviation history that flights are banned in China,” said Ng. 

Around this time of year, Ng and Maks’ phone lines are usually ringing off the hook because it’s a prime time for families to prepare for their summer vacations and couples are booking their honeymoons. Since the outbreak, the only calls the business partners receive are of cancellations.

Ng says they understand.

“I felt like if I wasn’t going to go to China, I would never jeopardize my clients by sending them over there,” said Ng. 

Ng says business is at a standstill right now. Despite this, Ng says he and his business partner, Mak, are hopeful business will go back to normal. In the meantime, they are praying for anyone who is affected by the the coronavirus