BEIJING, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- China on Monday resumed outbound group travel to 20 countries, including Thailand, the Maldives, the United Arab Emirates, Russia and New Zealand. Group tours between the Chinese mainland and the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions also resumed.
The move came after the country downgraded its management of COVID-19 from Class A to Class B on Jan. 8. Resuming outbound travel is one of the measures in China's COVID-19 response adjustment.
Customers learn about outbound travel at a travel agency in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, Feb. 8, 2023. (Xinhua/Liu Dawei)
Customers learn about outbound travel at a travel agency in Zhuji, east China's Zhejiang Province, Feb. 9, 2023. (Photo by Guo Bin/Xinhua)
Tourists bound for Thailand pose for photos at Beijing Capital International Airport in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 8, 2023. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong)
It has been three years since the country suspended outbound group tours -- the major form of travel for outbound tourists. The rebooting of the services is undoubtedly part of the certainty and momentum that the world's second-largest economy is contributing to a world faced with uncertainties and bleak growth prospects this year.
Chinese tourists visit the Grand Palace scenic spot in Bangkok, Thailand, Feb. 7, 2022. (Xinhua/Wang Teng)
Chinese tourists pose for photos at the Grand Palace scenic spot in Bangkok, Thailand, Feb. 7, 2022. (Xinhua/Wang Teng)
Chinese tourists visit the theme park Ferrari World Abu Dhabi in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Feb. 7, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Dongzhen)
Countries like Thailand, Cambodia and the United Arab Emirates welcomed the first tour groups from China in three years on Monday. Chinese tourists used to account for about a quarter of all arrivals in Thailand, which aims to receive 7 million Chinese tourists this year.
Air China flight CA745, carrying some 125 Chinese tourists, arrives at the Phnom Penh International Airport in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Feb. 7, 2023. (Photo by Phearum/Xinhua)
A Chinese tourist takes a selfie with Thai staff members at Don Mueang International Airport in Bangkok, Thailand, Feb. 6, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Teng)
Philippine tourism secretary Christina Frasco (2nd L) and Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian (3rd L) greet tourists from China at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 in Pasay City, the Philippines, Jan. 24, 2023. (Xinhua/Rouelle Umali)
Yuthasak Supasorn, governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), shows a gift for Chinese tourists at Don Mueang International Airport in Bangkok, Thailand, Feb. 6, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Teng)
During the Spring Festival holiday from Jan. 21 to 27, China saw nearly 2.9 million cross-border trips, up 120.5 percent year on year, and 308 million domestic trips, up 23.1 percent and back to 88.6 percent of the 2019 level for the same period.
Tourists from China are welcomed at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 in Pasay City, the Philippines, Jan. 24, 2023. (Xinhua/Rouelle Umali)
An Egyptian artist performs a traditional folk dance to welcome Chinese tourists at the Cairo International Airport in Cairo, Egypt, Jan. 20, 2023. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai)
With the gradual and orderly recovery of outbound tourism, more countries are expected to receive tour groups from China.
This photo taken on Jan. 12, 2023 shows the newly-opened King Noodle Bar at the Grindelwald Terminal, a new transportation hub for the three mountains in the Jungfrau ski region, Switzerland. (Xinhua/Lian Yi)
This photo taken on Jan. 12, 2023 from the Jungfrau ski region shows snow-covered mountains in Switzerland. (Xinhua/Lian Yi)
Over the past three years, China's average growth rate was 4.5 percent, far higher than the global average of 1.8 percent. The resumption of group tours shows that in the new phase of its COVID-19 response, China will strengthen people-to-people and economic exchanges with other countries, and inject more confidence and strength into global economic recovery.■
