China keeps guard up with travel warning as tourist industry prepares for first post-coronavirus holiday season
- Domestic demand is expected to rebound during the so-called Golden Week and could offer a major boost to the domestic tourist and entertainment industries
- But people have been asked to avoid unnecessary trips to countries and regions still hit by the pandemic
China is keeping its guard up ahead of the biggest holiday season since it largely brought the coronavirus outbreak under control.
China has asked its 1.4 billion residents to avoid unnecessary travel abroad during the week-long national holiday starting on October 1, which will be a major test of the country’s ability to prevent a renewed outbreak of Covid-19.
Large parts of the country went into lockdown during the Lunar New Year holiday, but weak domestic consumption is expected to rebound during the so-called Golden Week, usually the peak season for tourism and entertainment industries.
But the travel advice highlights just how the long shadow cast by the pandemic is, even though China was the first major economy to return to growth after Covid-19 disrupted global commerce and travel.
Wang Quanyi, director of the Beijing Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, said yesterday in a press conference that the disease was still spreading and that China would continue to take strong measures to prevent a rebound at home and prevent imported cases.
“I would like to remind citizens and friends not to leave the country unless necessary. If you must leave the country, please pay close attention to the local epidemic prevention and control information,” Wang said.