Local authorities expect the influx of travelers to give new impetus to investment in Beijing’s economy after restrictions are eased.
From March 15, China will continue to issue tourist visas for foreign citizens after the coronavirus pandemic. This was reported by the consular service of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Reuters reported.
Beijing will reopen its borders to foreign tourists for the first time in three years since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, allowing all visa categories to be issued. This step was made possible on the background of the lifting of the acute restrictions previously in force in the country due to the increase in the number of diseases caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
According to the statement made by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, foreign nationals with a valid visa before March 28, 2020 will also be able to enter the country.
The agency hopes that the influx of foreign citizens will give new impetus to the PRC economy against the background of the strong deterioration in GDP growth dynamics over the past decade.
“The new visa policy will also allow tourists to resume visa-free travel to Hainan Island, passengers arriving in Shanghai by cruise ships, as well as tourist groups from Hong Kong, Macau, and Southeast Asian Nations Union countries, in the southern regions of the country” – Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ highlighted in the message.
COVID-19 outbreak in China
The COVID-19 virus outbreak was first recorded in December 2019 in Wuhan, China. On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic.
Since the start of one of the deadliest epidemics in history, most countries have closed borders and imposed strict lockdown restrictions. By the summer of 2022, almost all of them were canceled in many countries, but China remained closed to the outside world due to the increase in the number of diseases caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
Against the backdrop of the worsening economic situation and strict lockdown restrictions in the country in November 2022, China was shaken by massive protests. As a result, since the beginning of December, China has significantly changed its policy, removing almost all local COVID restrictions. And from January 8, 2023, China began opening its borders to foreigners who tested negative for the coronavirus.
According to statistics, as of March 14, 2023, 221,955 cases of Covid-19 coronavirus infection were recorded in China. The total number of deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic in China is 5,213.
Recall that at the end of January, China lifted strict quarantine restrictions for incoming tourists, and also removed restrictions on the movement of its citizens within the country due to the Covid-19 outbreak.
Also on December 23, 2022, a record number of cases of COVID-19 virus were recorded in China – 37 million people in one day.
Source: Focus
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