BEIJING: With the economy gradually reopening in China as the coronavirus crisis subsides, Chinese travelers are beginning to take tentative steps out of their homes for vacations nearby, if the recent Qingming festival was any indication.
But travel business players in China are only too aware that a return to pre-crisis norm is not yet on the horizon, as people’s movement across the country still comes under significant restrictions.
Within China, it is not uncommon for tourist sites and attractions to reopen for business, only to close a couple of days later out of fear of another wave of infections. Patrons have to prove their health status through a government-sanctioned app before they can enter local restaurants and establishments.
Meanwhile, China has temporarily suspended the entry of most foreigner nationals to guard against a second wave of infections from abroad. Large tour groups for both inbound and outbound travel are still currently banned by the central government, while travel agents are barred from running cross-province trips.
With current entry restrictions effectively sealing off international tourism flows into China, overseas source markets have now dried up as a revenue stream, at least for the time beingfor inbound travel operators in the country. In place, a number of them are turning their attention to the expats and local residents market.
Explore Beyond Founder Maxime Tondeur believes the virus situation will stoke domestic travel interest of foreign residents, who would otherwise holiday abroad but cannot due to current travel restrictions or quarantine requirements.
