World’s most populous country ends coronavirus zero policy, reopens borders for foreign travelers
China has allowed organized groups to travel to the UAE starting next month as the South Asian country reopens after the pandemic.
Chinese travel agencies and online tourism service providers will be able to offer group tours to the UAE from February 6, 2023, according to China’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
China suspended outbound group travel in 2020 following the outbreak of the pandemic. The world’s most populous country has ended its Covid-free policy and reopened its borders for foreign travelers as it has passed its peak in Covid cases.
On December 26, China’s National Health Commission downgraded Covid-19 from Class A to Class B. This means that the requirement for passenger quarantine has been lifted.
From 8 January, travelers from the UAE to China will only need to take a single PCR test 48 hours before boarding their flight.
Passengers from the UAE with negative Covid-19 test results are required to complete a health declaration with China Customs before travel. However, travelers with a positive test result will have to wait until the result is negative.
About 80% of China’s residents were reported to be infected with the coronavirus.
In 2019, pre-pandemic, Dubai received 989,000 Chinese tourists, a 15.5% increase over the previous year.
In addition to the United Arab Emirates, outbound group travel from China includes Thailand, Russia, Cuba, South Africa, Argentina, Hungary, Indonesia, Cambodia, Kenya, Cuba, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, New Zealand, Singapore and many others. Countries: Fiji, Philippines, Switzerland, Sri Lanka.
Meanwhile, a group of Chinese tourists began a tour of Egypt this week ahead of the Lunar New Year, becoming the first group from China to travel abroad in three years since the outbreak of the pandemic, according to Xinhua News Agency.
As China eases restrictions on international travel for its citizens, some countries are requiring Chinese citizens to test negative for Covid-19 or be fully vaccinated.
For group travel, related flight and hotel booking services will resume from 6 February.
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