The reasons why China’s high-spending tourists are staying home, at least for now

09-01-23

Boost for businesses starved of country's deep-pocketed travellers likely to be delayed as full recovery to pre-Covid levels may take months

During last year’s bruising Covid lockdown in Shanghai, Qin Bing dreamed of travelling overseas. As China reopens its borders on Sunday after three years of Covid isolation, however, the 36-year-old marketing manager is staying put.

In fact, the $280 billion force that is Chinese tourism may not re-emerge for months, thanks to lingering infections, restrictions for new arrivals and surging costs tied to a breakdown of the global travel infrastructure.