BEIJING — Travelers from mainland China stuck near home in Asia through the Lunar Latest 12 months, the primary holiday after Beijing relaxed its Covid-related border controls.
Hong Kong and Macao were the preferred spots, said Trip.com, citing flight bookings on its platform for the primary 4 days of the Lunar Latest 12 months. The seven-day holiday kicked off on Saturday.
Listed below are the subsequent three hottest overseas destinations for mainland travelers, based on Trip.com:
3. Bangkok
4. Singapore
5. Phuket, Thailand
Flight bookings for travel from the mainland to overseas destinations through the first 4 days of the vacation quadrupled from a 12 months ago, Trip.com said.
In late December, Beijing announced that starting Jan. 8 travelers would now not have to quarantine upon arrival on the mainland, and that Chinese residents could begin to resume leisure travel abroad. The change ended nearly three years of border controls.
Nonetheless, Japan and South Korea — each popular amongst Chinese tourists — subsequently imposed temporary restrictions on travelers from China, including limits on visas and quarantining Covid-positive individuals.
Singapore has not announced any changes, while Thailand scrapped its plan to require international visitors to indicate proof of Covid vaccination, just days after announcing it.
China has seen a wave of Covid infections after Beijing ended most domestic Covid controls in early December. A negative Covid test continues to be required for travel to the mainland.
In 2019, Chinese outbound tourists spent $54.7 billion on shopping, based on Euromonitor International.