Across Asia, borders are being opened and quarantine measures are being lifted. Even the last few countries to comply with COVID restrictions are willing to travel again.
After nearly three years of economic collapse, travel stopped. Several countries in the region have opened their doors again in recent months. not only alleviating the suffering of their tourism industry; But it also includes millions of urban residents who are facing job instability and family problems.(Asia opens the door to travel with the exception of China)Separation during the epidemic.
except in one country is China.
but in china which sees its own economy suffers from strict Covid-free policies This involves strict border controls, lockdowns and compulsory detention. There seems to be no end in sight of limitations. Despite the dissatisfaction with the public.
It hopes Beijing may relax its policies after the much-anticipated Communist Party Congress later this month fell after the state-run People’s Daily on Tuesday described the approach as a “smart move”. “The best choice”
“At a time like this We must realize that ‘No dynamic COVID-19’ is sustainable and must be adhered to,” the statement said in a description, pointing to the ongoing epidemic in the country.
He added that the Covid-free policy has reduced the economic impact of the virus and helped keep the mortality rate low. “We are unable to relax the prevention and control (measures),” the report said.
While China continues to implement a Covid-free policy A new video shows armed officers standing outside the airport for enforcement. More than two years after the outbreak began, Erin Burnett reported.
Parts of East Asia opened up.
China’s stance means that it is outlier even in East Asia. which various governments has slowed the end of the COVID-19 restrictions the most.
For the pandemic Zero coronavirus is the norm across the region. where many countries and territories are continually restricted. Although the vaccine will become widely available in 2021
In addition, in September The self-governing island of Taiwan has been reopened to visitors from various locations. including the United States and the European Union, enter the country without a visa.
The incident came after the government reduced the compulsory quarantine from seven to three days for foreign nationals arriving since June.
People walk along a shopping street in a tourist area of Kyoto. Japan on October 11
Fred Mery/AFP/Getty Images
Japan, one of Asia’s most popular travel destinations. It reopened in June 2022, although more tourists are allowed in groups than in groups.
The results were quick, with Singapore-based international travel provider Trip.com reporting a spike in Japan bookings and searches that month. The most bookings come from South Korea. It saw a 194% increase in bookings to Japan, but similar increases were reported in European countries such as Spain, Germany and the United Kingdom.
South Korea lifts quarantine requirements for all foreign travelers. regardless of nationality and vaccination status in june
And it appears the auction has paid off. In August, South Korea had nearly 311,000 tourists, with more than half of them being tourists. That compares to just 97,000 in the same period last year.
Hong Kong is trying to recover after the COVID-19 pandemic. It brought back several attractions, reports CNN’s Kristie Lu Stout.
Beginning of Southeast Asia
Some countries in Southeast Asia The economy is heavily dependent on tourism. It has a worthy entry point for the East Asian country, having opened up last year. and are reaping the benefits.
Vietnam began allowing foreign tourists to visit designated sites under the Vaccine Passport Program last November. and reopening in full in March. which is 3 months earlier than originally planned.
Travelers line up at the Vietnam Airlines JSC counter at South Korea’s Incheon International Airport on September 8, 2022.
SeongJoon Cho/Bloomberg/Getty Images
“All indicators of the tourism industry have recovered miraculously,” said Nguyen Trung Khanh, director of the Vietnam National Tourism Administration, according to the government news website VietnamNet.
“Thanks to the growth of tourists in the country after the COVID-19 outbreak. After half a year The industry has achieved its goals for the whole year.”
Thailand began allowing fully vaccinated travelers last November. Under a program that was temporarily suspended during the outbreak, Omicron re-launched the program earlier this year. and has continued to relax restrictions over the past few months.
Tourists and villagers walk through a street market in Phuket, Thailand, on October 2.
Andre Malerba/Bloomberg/Getty Images
still below pre-epidemic levels Thailand had nearly 40 million visitors in 2019, but the country is recovering steadily. Tourism is expected to reach 80% of pre-epidemic levels next year. According to the information of Burachaisri.
Patron at a bar in Phuket, Thailand, September 30
Andre Malerba/Bloomberg/Getty Images
Strange Chinese
The opening of the country was in stark contrast to the situation in mainland China. which people are used to the possibility of sudden lockdown
Tourist hot spots are also affected. Pingyao Ancient City UNESCO World Heritage Sites announced the lockdown immediately After only two cases were found Zhangjiajie City which is home to a national park with beautiful scenery Locked in only one case and last week Hundreds of tourists were stranded at an airport in Xishuangbanna. of Yunnan Province due to the rapid lockdown.
Residents stand behind a fence line at a fruit stall in the Tianshan county of Urumqi, Xinjiang, China on Sept. 5.
Str/Reuters.
Officials have been on high alert with less than a week left before the Communist Party of China convenes two national meetings a decade in which Leader Xi Jinping is expected to secure an unprecedented third position.
Officials across the country have taken steps to provide a smooth approach to the meeting. which is a very delicate moment by tightening the already strict COVID rules and announcing more lockdowns.
There are still other zero signs of Covid to be here. earlier this week Authorities from Shanghai’s Pudong region posted online that they wanted to hire more than 500 coronavirus workers on two-year contracts to operate. “Community Prevention and Control Work”
The post was published on the district office’s official WeChat account and seen by CNN, but has since been removed.
The state media has increased the prevention of COVID-19 infection. in the past few days In a separate opinion published on Wednesday, People’s Daily claimed that some countries had reopened because they had no choice after failing to “Effective epidemic control in a timely manner”
by arguing that the epidemic in the United States And Japan is evidence of the “serious consequences” of loosening restrictions. Despite the fact that both countries have seen their cases decline since the summer’s sharp increase.
“As insistence that there is no covid We will avoid the enormous losses caused by uncontrollable epidemics,” the comments said. “Because we insist that there is no covid. We protect the lives and health of as many people as possible.”
