What’s new: China will resume overseas group tours organized by travel agencies for Chinese citizens Feb. 6, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism said Friday.
China will allow travel agencies and online travel companies to provide group tours and “flight + hotel” services to 20 countries including Thailand, Indonesia, Cambodia, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Laos, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Kenya, South Africa, Russia, Switzerland, Hungary, New Zealand, Fiji, Cuba and Argentina, the ministry said.
Travel agencies can carry out preparations such as product releasees and marketing starting now, the ministry said.
The background: Since China resumed regular cross-border travel Jan. 8 following a major reversal of its “zero-Covid” policy, civil aviation, cargo transport and other sectors have released relevant implementation documents.
Meanwhile, China’s unprecedented wave of Covid infections has spooked authorities elsewhere, with countries such as the U.S., Japan, South Korea and Morocco putting additional curbs on travelers from China.
At least 21 countries have announced entry restrictions on Chinese visitors, including requiring them to take a Covid tests before departure or on arrival and quarantining those who test positive.
Among the 20 countries to which China will open group tours, Malaysia requires mandatory temperature checks on travelers from China. Most other countries on the list aren’t imposing new entry restrictions on Chinese tourists so far.
Contact reporter Denise Jia (huijuanjia@caixin.com) and editor Bob Simison (bob.simison@caixin.com)
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