BEIJING: By allowing all categories of visas to be issued from Wednesday (today), China will reopen its borders to foreign tourists for the first time in the three years since the Covid-19 pandemic erupted.

The removal of this last cross-border control measure imposed to guard against Covid-19 comes after authorities last month declared ‘victory’ over the virus.

Tourist industry insiders do not expect a massive influx of visitors in the short run or significant boost to the economy. In 2019, international tourism receipts accounted for just 0.9 per cent of China’s gross domestic product.

But the resumption of visa issuance for tourist marks a broader push by Beijing to normalise two-way travel between China and the world, having withdrawn its advisory to citizens against foreign travel in January.

Areas in China that required no visas before the pandemic will revert to visa-free entry, the foreign ministry said on Tuesday. This will include the southern tourist island of Hainan, a long-time favourite destination among Russians, as well as cruise ships passing through Shanghai port.

Visa-free entry for foreigners from Hong Kong and Macau to China’s most prosperous province, Guangdong, will also resume. Chinese events open to foreign visitors such as the China Deve­lopment Forum in Beijing later this month and the Shanghai Autoshow in April are gradually resuming.

In 2022, just 115.7 million cross-border trips were made in and out of China, with foreigners accounting for around 4.5m. By contrast, China logged 670m overall trips in 2019 before the arrival of Covid, with foreigners accounting for 97.7m.

Published in Dawn, March 15th, 2023