China is starting today to re-issue “all types of entry visas”, including tourist visas, after three years of draconian measures that isolated the country due to the covid-19 pandemic.

THE Chinathe first country to be hit by the new coronavirus, in March 2020 closed its borders to all visa holders, including those with residence permits, as authorities feared a wave of infections from abroad.

At the height of the pandemic, many Chinese living abroad were unable to return home, and the number of international flights was drastically reduced.

The measures began to be gradually relaxed, with authorities beginning to issue entry visas for business purposes or for family reunification.

However, exchanges between China and abroad remained restricted for three years, while those arriving in the country from abroad had to remain in quarantine.

China scrapped its ‘zero covid’ policy in January. Since then, Chinese citizens can again travel abroad for tourism. But the suspension of issuing tourist visas remained the last measure of this policy.

Return of tourism

Starting today, Chinese authorities will issue “all types of entry visas” for all foreign residents, the foreign ministry said.

Entry visas that were issued before the border closure on March 28, 2020 and which have not expired remain valid, it is clarified.

Foreigners from Hong Kong and Macau will also be allowed to travel visa-free to Guangdong province. Visas will also not be required to travel to the tourist island of Hainan, a destination favored by Russian tourists, as well as cruise ship passengers stopping in Shanghai.

Before closing its borders, China welcomed about 65.7 million foreign visitors in 2019, according to data from the World Tourism Organization.