According to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism (MCT), China has resumed group tours for Chinese citizens to 40 countries and regions since March 15. In the first wave of easing in February, China only opened tourism to 20 countries.
The 60 destinations span Asia, Europe, Africa, Oceania and Latin America. Asian countries are the most popular destinations for Chinese tourists. However, some major countries such as South Korea, Japan, Australia and the US have not yet lifted Covid-19 control restrictions on Chinese tourists.
As international flight capacity gradually recovers and airfares drop significantly, China is expecting a surge in outbound tourism during the National Day holiday and the country’s summer vacation. From March 26 to June 30, the number of outbound flight bookings by Chinese tourists increased by more than 500% compared to the same period in 2022.
The number of Chinese tourists booking international flights has increased rapidly.
Meanwhile, China has reopened its borders to foreign tourists for the first time in three years since the Covid-19 outbreak, allowing all types of visas to be issued from March 15, according to MCT.
According to this year's Blue Book on China's Tourism Economy, the number of Chinese tourists is expected to exceed 90 million, double that of last year and up 31.5% from pre-pandemic levels.
