China opens its doors to international tourists

ạn Lý Trường Thành chính là địa điểm du lịch Trung Quốc

The Great Wall is a place visited by many international tourists when traveling to China. (Source: Traveloka)

Since March 15, the Chinese government has begun issuing almost all types of visas, including tourist visas, to international visitors. This is an important sign that the country is trying to integrate with the world after a series of strict Covid-19 control measures.

According to the confirmation from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs , the visa-free policy in areas including Hainan Island and for cruise ships passing through Shanghai Port has also been restored to the pre-pandemic level. Tourists with visas issued before March 28, 2020 and still valid, can also enter.

China will also waive visas for foreign tourist groups traveling to Guangdong from Hong Kong, Macao and cruise ships stopping in Shanghai, the Chinese Embassy in the United States said.

Previously, on March 11, the Chinese Ministry of Culture and Tourism also announced 40 more countries to the list of countries that citizens are allowed to visit on group tours, bringing the total number of countries to 60. Vietnam is also on this new list.

According to data from China's Ministry of Public Security, only 115.7 million domestic and international trips were made in 2022, one-fifth of the pre-pandemic level. In December 2022, China lifted all domestic quarantine measures and opened its borders to visitors in January 2023.

Since the easing of quarantine measures, Chinese airlines have added international routes after the government allowed group trips to resume. The number of international flights this year is expected to be 50-60% of pre-pandemic levels and will surpass that mark by 2024, according to China Securities Journal.

New Premier Li Qiang said on March 13 that it took China less than two months to achieve a "smooth transition" in its response to Covid-19 and that its strategies and measures were "absolutely correct," calling for greater efforts to achieve the 5% growth target for this year.

The move to resume tourist visas for international visitors comes after the government declared the country had overcome its most recent outbreak in February, and is expected to help the Northeast Asian nation revive an economy battered by three years of the pandemic.

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