Following the news of China reopening its borders to the world, there has been a significant surge in travel interest from Chinese citizens, with Sing
Following the news of China reopening its borders to the world, there has been a significant surge in travel interest from Chinese citizens, with Singapore emerging as one of the top 10 destinations. According to Trip.com Group, a leading travel booking platform, searches for international travel hit a three-year high shortly after China announced its new policy changes, CNBC reported.
This spike in interest comes as China updates its inbound flight arrangements, raising anticipation that outbound flights may soon follow suit.
Top Destinations for Chinese Tourists
Among the top 10 destinations Chinese tourists are most eager to visit are Japan, Thailand, South Korea, the United States, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, and the United Kingdom. Macau and Hong Kong also ranked high in search volumes, while European countries didn’t register as much interest in comparison.
Border Reopening
China’s National Health Commission announced on Dec. 26 that, starting Jan. 8, 2023, inbound travelers will no longer be required to quarantine upon arrival, a major policy shift after nearly three years of strict border control. Authorities also stated that Chinese citizens will be allowed to resume international travel, though the exact timeline remains unclear. During the pandemic, Chinese citizens were largely restricted from traveling abroad except for essential business purposes.
Potential Concerns in Singapore
China’s loosening of restrictions has led to a rapid increase in Covid-19 infections domestically, raising concerns globally about the potential impact of Chinese tourists in destination countries. However, Singapore’s Health Minister Ong Ye Kung noted that while China’s reopening could drive up infection rates, Singapore remains resilient with its high vaccination rates. The primary concern, he added, is the possibility of new virus variants emerging from China, given the large uninfected population.
Despite this, Singaporean infectious disease experts have said there is no need for additional travel restrictions on visitors from China. They point out that China’s current infection rates are not unusually higher than those of other countries. Travelers entering Singapore are still required to meet the existing requirements, such as being fully vaccinated or providing a negative Covid-19 test result.
For now, Singapore Airlines (SIA) has not announced any new restrictions for travelers arriving from China.
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