China News Service, Beijing, January 12th, "We miss Chinese tourists very much!" Since the implementation of the "Class B and B Control" plan for new coronavirus infections on January 8, China's inbound and outbound tourism has gradually resumed.
Thailand, Russia, Cambodia, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, New Zealand, Singapore and many other countries warmly welcome Chinese tourists.
“Chinese tourists are very welcome”
"China and Thailand are one family" and "Beautiful Thailand will always welcome our Chinese family members"——On January 9, a banner welcoming Chinese tourists hung in the reception hall of Suvarnabhumi Airport in Thailand.
Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health, Minister of Transport, and Minister of Tourism and Sports went to the airport to meet the first batch of tourists who arrived in Thailand after the gradual recovery of Chinese inbound and outbound tourism.
The Chinese tourists who received the garlands and gifts were full of smiles and said, "It feels good, and I feel the hospitality of the Thai people!"
On January 9, 2023, Thai officials distributed garlands to Chinese tourists arriving at Suvarnabhumi International Airport.
According to the Associated Press, Thai Deputy Prime Minister Anutin said at the pick-up site on the 9th that Chinese tourists do not need to show proof of vaccination against the new crown.
He said the arrival of Chinese tourists in Thailand "is a good sign, which will increase income, drive economic growth, expand employment, and bring other opportunities."
A Thai tour guide said in an interview with the British "Guardian": "I'm sure that the most anyone in the tourism industry wants to see is Chinese tourists."
Also "missing Chinese tourists" is Russia.
Since December 2022, Russia has been waiting for information on China's opening of outbound tourism.
Orlov, governor of the Amur region, said that the Amur region has made active preparations with Chinese tourism companies to receive Chinese tourists, and has prepared special tourism projects for Chinese tourists.
Cambodia is also looking forward to the arrival of Chinese tourists.
Prime Minister Hun Sen said recently that Cambodia "does not ask Chinese tourists to do anything, just come as ordinary tourists".
He hopes to welcome 2 million Chinese tourists in 2023, and said that "Southeast Asian countries very much welcome the arrival of Chinese tourists".
Data map: Foreign tourists visit a museum in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Malaysian Home Affairs Minister Saifuddin said on the 8th that the standard operating procedures for foreign tourists entering Malaysia remain unchanged, and the current epidemic prevention policy treats inbound tourists from all countries equally.
The chairman of the Malaysian Inbound Tourism Association also stated that the government will not impose special restrictions on Chinese tourists entering Malaysia after January 8. "If Malaysia prevents Chinese tourists from entering Malaysia, the country will suffer huge losses."
With the return of Chinese tourists, Malaysia Airlines is ready and will increase the number of flights accordingly.
Ahmed Khatib, Minister of Tourism of Saudi Arabia, hopes that more Chinese tourists will travel to Saudi Arabia and learn about the customs and customs of Saudi Arabia.
"China is one of Saudi Arabia's main trading partners. We have admired China's culture and heritage for many years... Now, we want the Chinese to travel to Saudi Arabia," he said.
Data map: Panoramic view of the city of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
According to Skift, a well-known travel media, New Zealand has opened its doors to Chinese tourists.
The New Zealand government stated on the 11th that it will not require Chinese tourists to provide negative nucleic acid test certificates.
The country had previously issued a statement stating that the epidemic prevention requirements for international entrants remained unchanged, and pointed out that additional entry restrictions were "unnecessary and unreasonable."
In Vietnam, medical experts urged the government not to restrict the entry of Chinese tourists or to impose nucleic acid tests on Chinese tourists.
Local tourism companies have quickly started preparations to welcome Chinese tourists to Vietnam.
Like Vietnam, Pakistan also warmly invites Chinese tourists to travel to Pakistan and actively promotes Pakistani tourists to travel to China.
The general manager of the Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation said: "For Pakistan, China's opening up of tourism is a very positive signal." He also said that it is planned to hold the China-Pakistan Tourism Exchange Year in 2023 to promote cultural exchanges and tourism cooperation.
Singapore's Minister of Health Wang Yekang said on the 9th that Singapore does not need to adjust its anti-epidemic measures against China at present.
"When Singapore experiences another wave of infections, how will other countries and regions treat tourists from Singapore?" he said.
Data map: At dusk, Gardens by the Bay, Singapore.
"Friendliness will naturally make Chinese tourists feel warm, happy, and feel at home, and it will become one of the important factors for them to choose outbound travel destinations." We will work with all parties to ensure the safe, smooth and orderly exchanges of Chinese and foreign personnel, and contribute to international solidarity in the fight against the epidemic and the recovery of the world economy.
'Travel restrictions on China are a farce'
CNN pointed out on the 9th that the return of Chinese tourists will bring hope to the recovery of the global economy.
However, a small number of countries insist on adopting discriminatory entry restrictions against China in disregard of scientific facts and the actual situation of the epidemic in their own countries.
On January 10, 2023, Chinese tourists prepare for nucleic acid testing at Incheon International Airport, South Korea.
"Travel restrictions against China are a farce." The New York Times published a commentary on the 5th, saying that people know a lot more about the new crown virus than they did three years ago, and blindly restricting entry does not do much to prevent the spread of the virus. The impact of travel restrictions on China "is not a logical policy."
Image source: New York Times report screenshot
According to the information published on the official website of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the aviation industry represented by the association and the Association of European Airlines (A4E), and the airport represented by the Airports Council International Europe (ACI Europe) issued a joint statement, I "deeply regret" the proposal "requiring tourists entering China to provide negative nucleic acid certificates" agreed by EU member states.
The joint statement pointed out that on January 3, the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) had issued a message saying that it is expected that the current new crown cases in China will not have an impact on the epidemic situation in the European Union and the European Economic Area. The decision contradicts the results of the ECDC's original assessment.
The joint statement said the EU's restrictions on Chinese tourists were almost "a knee-jerk reaction" rather than a scientific, risk-based measure.
As China's inbound and outbound tourism is gradually recovering, many countries around the world have expressed warm welcome and expectations for the arrival of Chinese tourists.
As the governor of the Amur region of Russia said when welcoming Chinese tourists, with the liberalization of the epidemic policy, "life will take on a new brilliance."