World News/20221228/04: People rush to book travel as borders finally reopen from CHINA people

Chinese officials have announced that they will be reopening their borders to international travel starting on January 8th, 2021. This decision has led to a surge in demand for passport applications and overseas travel bookings from Chinese citizens. However, not all countries will be welcoming Chinese travelers with open arms. Officials in the United States are considering new restrictions on travelers from China due to concerns about the recent surge in cases and lack of transparency from the Chinese government. Japan, a popular destination for Chinese tourists, has announced that all travelers from China must show a negative COVID-19 test upon arrival or quarantine for seven days due to the recent increase in cases. India has also implemented similar measures, requiring travelers from China (and other countries) to show a negative COVID-19 test upon arrival.

The reopening of China's borders marks the end of the country's zero-COVID policy, which sparked public protests in November. The policy relaxation has led to an increase in COVID-19 cases, with reports of overwhelmed hospitals and a shortage of drugs. Before the relaxation of travel rules, Chinese citizens were strongly discouraged from traveling abroad. The sale of outbound group and package travel was banned.

Within half an hour of the announcement that China's borders would reopen, data from travel site Trip.com showed a ten-fold increase in searches for popular destinations compared to the previous year. Macau, Hong Kong, Japan, Thailand, and South Korea were the most popular destinations. Chinese travel agency Qunar also reported a seven-fold increase in flight enquiries on its website within the first 15 minutes after the announcement. In 2019, before the pandemic, the number of outbound tourists from China was 155 million, according to Statista. This number dropped to 20 million in 2020. Some Chinese citizens hope to visit family and loved ones during Chinese New Year, which begins on January 22nd.

However, there has been a mixed reaction to the reopening of borders within China itself. While some are excited about the opportunity to travel again, others have expressed concern about the timing of the decision, as COVID-19 cases are currently at their peak. Some have also expressed frustration about the strict quarantine measures that were implemented earlier in the year, and feel that the reopening of borders is premature. It remains to be seen how the reopening of China's borders will impact the spread of COVID-19 and the ongoing pandemic.