China’s cross-border New Year holiday travel to hit 90% of pre-Covid level, authorities predict
The world’s second-largest economy is attempting to boost inbound travel after three years of strict anti-Covid restrictions largely closed China’s borders to the outside world.
Data from China’s tourism ministry showed the country received 477,800 foreign tourists in the first half of 2023 – only 5.6 per cent of the number recorded in the same period in 2019.
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During a summit between Chinese President Xi Jinping and his US counterpart Joe Biden last month in San Francisco, both sides agreed to expand travel and personal exchanges between China and the United States, as well as increase flights and streamline visa processing.
Recent figures from the National Immigration Administration showed that China recorded a total of 291 million border entries and exits during the first three quarters of this year, less than 60 per cent of the amount in the same period in 2019.
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“The National Immigration Administration has made specialised arrangements for the entry-exit customs clearance at ports during the New Year’s Day holiday … to ensure the port operation is safe, smooth and orderly,” the notice said.