The return of Chinese tourists, which the authorities of many countries hope for, could happen as early as 2023, and much earlier than expected – not just before the start of the summer season, but even before the Chinese New Year – just after January 8. At least this date was named by the Chinese South China morning post, reporting that China intends to abandon the quarantine and open its borders by this date. However, the details have not yet been specified.
The publication reports only that the National Health Commission has announced the easing of anti-covid regulations. This was reported by three sources in health authorities in three Chinese provinces – Guangdong, Fujian, and Jiangsu.
As doctors clarified, since 2020, COVID-19 has been declared an infectious disease of category A – which includes, for example, such deadly diseases as bubonic plague and cholera. Accordingly, it also requires strict restrictions – including quarantine of the infected and those in contact with them, as well as a ban on the free movement of citizens. It seems that with the emergence of less dangerous strains, such as “omicron”, the Chinese authorities are still ready to move the covid to category B, which “requires necessary treatment and measures to contain the spread”, but the strict control measures are lifted.
Including, taking into account everything, sources of the publication unofficially assume that the strict quarantine on entry and exit, which closes the road to tourists both from China and to China, should also be canceled… The truth is, according to what rules, in which the number, and how strict checks will be “released” by the Chinese after their return and whether they will be ready to travel – so far no one even predicts.
It will be recalled that the return of Chinese tourists was called “vitally important”. Such a conclusion was made at the Global Summit of the World Travel and Tourism Council, which took place in Riyadh the other day.
“The restoration of tourism will not begin without the presence of the citizens of the world’s second-largest economy,” is the general thesis. In particular, Anthony Capuano, CEO of Marriott International, said that the “zero covid policy” in China continues to hamper tourism recovery almost all over the globe.
“The problem for us is that the Chinese traveler has expanded his universe around the world. They influenced shopping in Europe, they were those travelers who traveled at a different time than the rest of the tourists. The return of the Chinese would be a plus for all of us,” said Greg O’Hara, founder and senior managing director of tourism investor Certares.