Authorities in China have proposed a regulation that aims to facilitate the entry of some foreigners, CNN reports. According to a draft policy document released by the Chinese Ministry of Culture and Tourism, tour groups organized by travel agencies in China’s border areas will be able to choose their port of entry and exit with some flexibility. Under the new policy, foreign tourists would be allowed to visit China’s border tourist sites, but only as part of tour groups. Further details on locations and dates have not yet been provided.
Despite the strict controls, the country has not been able to avoid outbreaks. In the third week of September, millions of people in the Chinese megacity of Chengdu emerged from mass confinement due to Covid-19. With a population of 21 million in southwest China, Chengdu was the country’s largest city to close schools, disrupt businesses and force residents to stay indoors for more than two weeks since Shanghai imposed a strict two-month lockdown in April. China is the last major economy to maintain a “zero Covid”. Authorities are facing pressure to contain outbreaks of the virus ahead of China’s Communist Party Congress in October.
“With the joint effort of the whole city, the epidemic has been brought under control,” the Chengdu government said in a statement. And it added that government agencies, public transportation and businesses resumed operations on Monday 19th, after shutting down on September 1st.
During the strict confinement, some residents of the large city were unable to leave even when a powerful earthquake shook a nearby area of Sichuan province on September 5, they confirmed to AFP news agency. Other cities, including the southern tech hubs of Shenzhen and Guiyang, have faced targeted confinements and travel restrictions in recent weeks to contain small outbreaks.
The new draft policy did not specify whether those entering would still have to meet China’s quarantine requirements for inbound travelers, which consist of one week of hotel confinement and three days of observation at home.
China closed its borders to foreign tourists since the Covid-19 pandemic began in 2020, and only allows certain groups of foreigners, such as those with valid visas, to enter the country.
