Funviralpark Shen Qilai | Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images
BEIJING—With China reopening its borders, locals are rushing to plan overseas trips for the Lunar New Year in late January, according to Trip.com Group.
Within 30 minutes of China announcing the policy change, searches for international travel surged to a three-year high, the travel booking company said.
According to the company, Japan, Thailand, South Korea, the United States, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia and the United Kingdom rank among the top 10 non-mainland destinations, with the fastest growing search volumes. Macau and Hong Kong are also on the list, but continental European countries are not included.
China’s National Health Commission announced late Monday that from 8 January onwards, incoming travelers will no longer be required to quarantine upon arrival in the mainland, ending a policy that has lasted nearly three years.
Officials also said they would allow Chinese citizens to resume travel without elaborating on the timing or process.
During the pandemic, Beijing prevented Chinese citizens from leaving the country unless they obtained a passport or had a clear reason, usually for business.
Chinese New Year, also known as Spring Festival, is one of the biggest holidays in China. His vacation in 2023 is from January 21st to 27th.
