China announced on Monday that it will drop COVID-19 testing requirements for people arriving from overseas, as reported by news agency AP.
In a press briefing in press briefing, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said that the pandemic testing requirements would be dropped starting Wednesday. It is a milestone toward ending the virus restrictions imposed in China since early 2020.
Earlier in March, China will reopen its borders to foreign tourists for the first time in three years since the COVID-19 pandemic erupted. Beijing said that it will start re-issuing all categories of visas starting from Wednesday, reported the news agency Reuters.
This news of removing the last cross-border control measure to guard against COVID-19 comes approximately a month after the authorities declared victory over the virus. This decision is part of a larger effort to normalise two-way travel between China and the rest of the world.
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The foreign ministry announced on Tuesday that visa-free entrance will once again be available in parts of China that did not require them before the pandemic. 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.
Guangdong, China’s most prosperous province, will once again allow foreigners from Hong Kong and Macau to enter without a visa. This will be a boon for high-end hotels that cater to international business travellers. However, the insiders of the tourism sector do not expect a massive influx of visitors in the short run or a significant boost to the economy. In 2019, international tourism receipts accounted for just 0.9% of China’s gross domestic product.
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