Starting from January 8, 2023, our country will implement "Category B and B control" for new coronavirus infection
On December 26, our country issued the " Overall plan for implementing "Category B and B control" for new coronavirus infection . The plan proposes that people coming to China should take a nucleic acid test 48 hours before departure. Those with negative results can come to China without applying for a health code from the Chinese embassy or consulate abroad, and the results will be filled in the customs health declaration card. If tested positive, relevant personnel should wait until they turn negative before coming to China. Starting from January 8, 2023, "Category B and B control" will be implemented for new coronavirus infections, and nucleic acid testing and centralized isolation of all people coming to China after entry will be cancelled. Based on the international epidemic situation and various service support capabilities, outbound tourism for Chinese citizens will be resumed in an orderly manner. Those whose health declaration is normal and there are no abnormalities in routine quarantine at the customs port can be released into the public. The "Five Ones" and passenger load factor restrictions and other international passenger flight quantity control measures will be cancelled.
In 10 days, my country will officially lift the lockdown, and various countries will propose countermeasures for Chinese tourists.
In 10 days, my country will officially lift the lockdown, and the tourist army is about to come out! The country announced late on the night of the 26th that COVID-19 prevention and control measures would be downgraded to a Class B infectious disease. Starting from January 8 next year, the country will be opened wide. Entry measures for overseas tourists will be optimized, the issuance of passports for Chinese citizens applying for tourism and visiting friends will be resumed, and outbound tourism will be resumed in an orderly manner.
However, my country is experiencing a large-scale infection situation. Many countries are worried that the entry of Chinese tourists will cause changes in the epidemic situation. Each country is also on the alert and has proposed relevant policies for Chinese tourists. Japan, a major tourist country, quickly proposed "China restrictions" measures on the 27th, and Taiwan, China, the United States, and Italy also proposed countermeasures on the 28th. Germany stated that there is currently no need to add special regulations for Chinese tourists.
We look forward to the tourism revenue brought by Chinese tourists, but we are also afraid of the variables caused by the epidemic.
Our country is experiencing a large-scale infection, and the epidemic is in the outbreak period. It is expected to take at least two or three months to return to normal. After announcing the "B Category B" for COVID-19 late at night on the 26th, the world's major tourist countries are certainly looking forward to the return of Chinese tourists with strong spending power to the tourism market. However, in the middle of winter when the epidemic is on the rise, countries cannot help but worry that Chinese tourists will not only bring tourism money but also bring variables to the epidemic.
Japan, one of my country's popular tourist destinations, quickly proposed rapid entry screening for Chinese tourists on the 27th, limited flights to four airports, and did not even allow additional flights. On the 23rd, a person who entered India from China was diagnosed with the disease, and officials quickly announced compulsory testing for incoming passengers from China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, and Thailand.
United States
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced on Wednesday (12/28) that starting from midnight on January 5 next year, all Chinese air passengers over the age of 2 must undergo PCR screening within 48 hours before leaving China, Hong Kong, or Macau, or undergo rapid antigen self-screening through telemedicine services, and present a negative test certificate to the airline before boarding. Passengers diagnosed 10 days before flight departure can provide recovery documents in lieu of negative screening results.
This regulation applies to air passengers regardless of nationality and vaccination status, including passengers flying directly from China to the United States, transiting to the United States through popular third countries such as Seoul , Toronto and Vancouver , as well as passengers transiting through the United States to other countries.
Italy
Milan Malpensa Airport in the northern city of Milan has implemented PCR testing for all passengers from China since December 24. It was surprisingly found that as many as half of the passengers were positive. The Italian government subsequently announced on Wednesday (12/28) that it would implement mandatory rapid screening for all travelers from China, and those who test positive must undergo viral genetic sequencing. Milan and Rome Airport have arranged designated isolation places to accommodate those who test positive. Italy is the first country in Europe to require screening of Chinese travelers.
South Korea
Starting from December 16, China has been listed as one of the key countries for quarantine inspection. Incheon International Airport near the capital Seoul has strengthened the entry screening of Chinese passengers. Those whose body temperature exceeds 37.5 degrees Celsius are classified as "symptomatic people", and those with temperatures above 37.3 degrees Celsius are "key quarantine targets." Entrants and accompanying persons with a body temperature exceeding 37.3 degrees are required to undergo PCR testing. The Central Anti-epidemic Countermeasures Headquarters stated that the government is expected to announce on the 30th whether China will be listed as a target of "strengthened epidemic prevention measures."
India
Passengers arriving from China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Thailand and other places must upload a negative PCR test certificate to the government-designated website before departure. They will be screened for fever upon entry, and those with symptoms or positive tests will be quarantined. In addition, 2% of inbound passengers are randomly inspected at the airport.
Philippines
does not completely prohibit the entry of Chinese tourists, but adopts a very cautious attitude and may implement virus testing.
Malaysia
is considering implementing new tracking and monitoring measures, but has not yet stated that it will specifically target Chinese tourists. At present, all inbound passengers must hold a 48-hour PCR test negative certificate. Except for those arriving through the three channels of Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL), Langkawi International Travel Bubble (LITB), and One-Stop Center (OSC) short-term business passengers, other general passengers will undergo 5 to 10 days of quarantine according to the number of vaccination doses if they are fully vaccinated, upload a PRC negative certificate before departure, and accept PCR test at the airport.
Germany
There are currently no additional new regulations specifically targeted at travelers arriving from China, but we will continue to keep a close eye on the epidemic in China and the mutation of the virus .
Countries around the world should not engage in any discriminatory behavior against Chinese tourists
There is no best of both worlds in this world. You want to make money from the Chinese people, but you are afraid that the new coronavirus epidemic will have a negative impact on them. In fact, most countries around the world have already taken measures to ease the spread of COVID-19. People in many countries have regarded COVID-19 as a common and trivial matter and do not pay special attention to it. Moreover, most foreigners do not wear masks or take any protective measures.
As for my country, which is the last country to open up, the lethality of the virus is actually at a historically low level, and we currently only have one strain, , Omicron, and , and there is no , delta, and mixed in. Although restrictions have been relaxed, most Chinese people still wear masks, do not gather in crowded areas, and still maintain the basic necessary protective awareness against the virus. Moreover, our country has also formulated relevant measures for entry and exit personnel, which should be known and recognized by countries around the world.
Therefore, we hope that these countries will not take any overly strict or radical measures against Chinese tourists, treat Chinese tourists equally, and avoid any discriminatory or disrespectful behavior.
