In China, there is a growing Covid outbreak. Countries imposing travel restrictions on Chinese visitors, concerned about the virus’s spread. Scientists warn against xenophobia and fearmongering.
But it’s not early 2020. The familiar scene is now playing out as China battles its largest-ever outbreak, three years after abandoning its strict zero-Covid approach and partially reopening its border.
The country announced this week that it will no longer require quarantine for international arrivals and will resume outbound travel for Chinese citizens, which had previously been prohibited. It sparked a rush of eager travelers booking flights out of the country, eager for a vacation after several years of isolation – but it also sparked concern among some foreign governments as China’s Covid cases skyrocketed.
According to a regional health chief, nearly half of the 212 passengers who arrived in Italy’s Milan airport from China on Monday tested positive for Covid.
While some countries, such as the United States and Japan, impose restrictions, others, such as France and the United Kingdom, have stated that they are ready to welcome Chinese visitors, who were a major driver of international tourism prior to the pandemic.
China’s response was to claim that its Covid situation was “under control,” and to accuse Western media of “distorting” recent policy changes.
“The real intention is to sabotage China’s three years of Covid-19 control efforts and attack the country’s system,” said the state-run tabloid Global Times in an article published Thursday, citing experts who called the restrictions “unfounded” and “discriminatory.”
Chinese tourists are eager to travel abroad once more. Here are some of the reasons why some countries are hesitant.
