In travel news for August 29, 2023 we talk about China’s relaxing of pandemic era entry restrictions.
In a significant move signaling the country's gradual reopening to international travelers, China has announced that it will no longer require a negative COVID-19 test for entry, effective Wednesday, August 30. The Foreign Ministry spokesperson described this change as a "major milestone" in a press briefing on Monday.
This development comes on the heels of other adjustments to China's travel restrictions. In January, the country ended quarantine mandates for Chinese citizens who were returning home from abroad. Moreover, China recently expanded the list of countries its citizens can visit and added more international flights to its schedules.
Delta Air Lines announced last week that it would expand its flight offerings to China. Starting October 29, the airline will offer 10 weekly flights from Seattle and Detroit to Shanghai. Furthermore, in March 2024, Delta plans to introduce a service to Shanghai from Los Angeles four times a week—a route that hasn't been in operation since before the pandemic.
The latest relaxation of entry requirements is a stark contrast to China's previously enforced "zero COVID" policy. This policy led to city-wide lockdowns and long quarantine periods for infected individuals, severely impacting the country's economy. The strict measures resulted in rising unemployment and sparked widespread Protests against the forced lockdowns.
The lifting of mandatory COVID-19 testing requirements for international travelers is expected to spur a significant boost in travel activities to and from China, offering relief to airlines, travel agencies, and other businesses that have been grappling with the limitations imposed by the pandemic.
