(Zhong Yun/interview report) Many governments have recently reintroduced major travel restrictions to prevent the spread of the epidemic, which has attracted criticism from the tourism industry. Some industry insiders said that after the epidemic in spring 2023, the outbound travel market will recover strongly again.
After opening up to the international tourism market last year, the Thai government has announced that it will reimpose entry restrictions on all foreign nationals. Starting today (9), all foreign tourists over the age of 18 entering Thailand must present a new corona vaccine certificate or a new corona recovery certificate within the past six months. Unvaccinated travelers must present a letter from a doctor explaining why they have not been vaccinated. In addition, passengers entering the country must also have health and medical insurance. Some experts have pointed out that it is a measure introduced to prevent a new wave of epidemics when China reopens its borders, but this policy is not just for Chinese tourists.
Recently, more and more countries, such as the United Kingdom and Italy, have come forward with relevant requirements such as testing again after the easing of travel restrictions, and the tourism market that has just been steadily on the road to recovery is still facing development pressures. For example, related reports have pointed out that many Indian tourists who originally planned to visit Thailand have started canceling their scheduled flights. If Thailand is to meet its target of more than 300,000 Chinese tourists visiting Thailand in the first quarter of this year, it also faces greater challenges. The tourism industry has also expressed strong opposition to the restrictive regulations imposed by many governments. Previously,Willie Walsh, president of the International Air Transport Association (IATA)Namely, over the past three years, such blind knee-jerk measures have proven ineffective, so governments should heed the advice of experts, including the World Health Organization, and not resort to cutting international connectivity, destroying economies and job destruction. Ineffective measures.
Julia Simpson, President and CEO, World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC)He also said that in 2019, Chinese tourists from all over the world contributed US$253 billion to the global economy, created job opportunities, and promoted the development of the regional economy. The reopening of Chinese tourism is a very good news. The knee-jerk travel restrictions show that governments remain unaware of how the virus spreads and are still ignoring the World Health Organization’s advice that border restrictions won’t stop the virus from mutating or spreading around the world.
but,Alex Jarman, Senior Analyst, Travel, Euromonitor InternationalIt is reported that although many countries have re-introduced travel restrictions due to the epidemic situation this winter, starting in the spring of 2023, the outbound travel market is expected to grow strongly again. With China lifting travel quarantine requirements, Asia will be the first region to benefit in 2023, while Europe and other places still have to wait for Chinese tourists to return.
