Coronavirus: China pays a high cost to keep the virus at bay ahead of the Beijing Winter Olympics

Restrictions have hit foreigners wanting to enter China, Chinese wanting to go overseas and domestic holiday travel seasons

Experts suggest China adopt more flexible tactics because ‘zero tolerance’ is too disruptive and new variants may be impossible to eradicate

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A man adjusts an emblem of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games before a ceremony unveiling the slogan, in Beijing on September 17, 2021. Photo: Reuters

Published: 2:57pm, 21 Sep 2021Updated: 2:57pm, 21 Sep 2021

The Beizhong International Travel Agency in the eastern city of Tianjin has had only one customer since coronavirus outbreaks that began in July prompted Chinese leaders to renew city lockdowns and travel controls.

Most of China is virus-free but the abrupt, severe response to outbreaks has left would-be tourists jittery about travelling to places they might be barred from leaving. That has hit consumer spending, hindering efforts to keep the economic recovery on track.

China’s “zero tolerance” strategy of trying to isolate every case and stop transmission has helped keep the country – where the virus first was detected in late 2019 – largely free of disease. But the public and businesses are paying a steep price.

Foreign athletes are expected to compete in the Winter Olympics that start on February 4 in Beijing and the nearby city of Zhangjiakou, but the government has yet to say whether restrictions that prevent most foreigners from entering China will be relaxed to allow spectators in.

“Two years ago, this was our busiest season,” said the Beizhong agency manager, Wang Hui.

“Now, customers tend to postpone their plans because of the outbreaks,” Wang said. “This year is worse than last year.”

China is closed to most foreign visitors and discourages its own public from travelling.