No immediate surge of Chinese tourists after reopening

29-12-22

China's easing of COVID-19 rules for international arrivals has raised hopes that its multi-billion-dollar travel business will soon flourish again, but countries yearning for the return of Chinese tourists are likely to have to wait longer.

China's National Health Commission announced on Monday that incoming travellers will no longer have to enter quarantine from January 8. There are no official restrictions on Chinese going abroad, but the new rule will make it much easier for them to return home.

China was the world's largest outbound tourism market before COVID disrupted global travel, and its foreign visitors spent $127.5 billion on travel in 2019.

Airlines are drawing up plans to expand their services, but ordinary Chinese and travel agents suggest a return to something resembling normality will take some time.