China to finally reopen to tourists

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “Resuming applications for all types of visas removes another significant barrier in the resumption of normal travel between the UK and China,” Tom Simpson, managing director, China-Britain Business Council, told Reuters. “The has already seen business travel applications and arrivals begin to increase since January; however, this news should lead to a significant increase in visits in particular for tourism.” The news follows a February announcement by the Chinese government which declared a “decisive victory” in the battle against Covid, claiming it had created “a miracle in the history of human civilisation” in its handling of the disease. “Unfavourable views” of the country due to concerns over human rights and China’s foreign policy may also stem the anticipated flow of western tourists back to the country. “In terms of tourism, China is no longer a hotspot destination,” an executive at China International Travel Services in Beijing, who declined to be named due the sensitivity of the matter, told Reuters.