Sébastien Le Belzic (in Beijing), edited by Yanis Darras
More than two years after the start of the pandemic, China is finally lifting its restrictions linked to its “zero Covid” policy. As of January 8, the Chinese will once again be able to travel abroad. Good news for the latter, but which worries neighboring countries, while China is experiencing a surge in the number of Covid cases.
It was the last lock in Beijing’s “zero Covid” policy. From January 8, travelers from overseas will no longer need to quarantine upon arrival in China. Good news for the business community who were waiting for this reopening of the borders, but also for Chinese tourists who will finally be able to travel more easily abroad.
Projects that “can finally become reality”
“When the government started to reopen, I knew there might be a day like this”, explains a young Beijinger at the microphone of Europe 1. “So that it was announced (the opening of the borders editor’s note), I had the impression that the epidemic was finally over and the travel plans I made three years ago can finally become a reality,” she says.
And as soon as this measure was announced, online reservations exploded, with a preference for the closest destinations such as Thailand, South Korea and Japan. The country of the rising sun which is already worried about seeing hordes of potentially sick Chinese tourists arriving and carrying new variants. Tokyo will therefore now require a PCR test for all travelers from China.