Beijing’s government has declared a further relaxation of the travel constraints that were initially implemented due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. Once again, organized group excursions from China to Germany have been reinstated. Nonetheless, travel to specific countries remains prohibited, and it seems that political considerations have played a role in the selection of these countries.
Before the onset of the corona pandemic, Chinese tour groups were a common presence in cities like Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Heidelberg, and Frankfurt am Main. However, the Chinese government reacted swiftly to the pandemic by imposing a ban on outbound group travel. Now, Beijing has reversed this measure, easing travel limitations for group journeys to Germany and several other Western nations.
The Chinese Ministry of Culture and Tourism has announced that this authorization will take immediate effect. Alongside Germany, Chinese tourists are also given the green light to once again explore the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, South Korea, and Australia.
In the time before the pandemic struck, Chinese tourists were renowned for their extravagant spending while travelling worldwide. In the year 2019, their expenditures on international travel amounted to a remarkable $255 billion, with group travel constituting an estimated 60 percent of that total. The relaxation of travel restrictions could potentially lead to a substantial boost for the tourism industry in the countries affected.
Canada is not on the list
China has progressed to the third phase of its gradual relaxation of travel restrictions, as indicated by its latest authorization. Commencing in January, China has permitted tour groups to journey to a selection of 20 countries, encompassing destinations such as Thailand, Russia, Cuba, and Argentina.
Subsequently, an additional approval expanded the roster by 40 countries, encompassing places like Nepal, France, Portugal, and Brazil. The Chinese government has refrained from disclosing the rationale behind the incremental approvals.
Experts concur that the segmented approach might be attributed to geopolitical or economic strains between China and certain nations. As an illustration, Canada, which currently maintains a strained relationship with China, has yet to be included in the catalogue of countries permissible for Chinese tour groups to visit.