China Opens Border For Foreign Tourist Groups Coming From Abroad - Authorities

BEIJING (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 31st March, 2023) China is opening its borders for foreign tourist groups starting this Friday as part of the government's decision to abandon its "zero tolerance" policy towards COVID-19 infections, the Chinese Ministry of Culture and Tourism said.

"Starting today, Chinese travel agencies and online tourist service providers will resume the organization of inbound group tours for foreign citizens and provision of 'plane tickets plus allocation' services," the ministry's statement read.

In December 2022, the Chinese government started to gradually ease its "zero tolerance" policy towards COVID-19 cases, which had been the strictest in the world for almost three years, following mass protests against restrictions in a number of cities. In January 2023, China completely canceled quarantine and PCR testing for people coming from abroad and resumed accepting applications from Chinese citizens for passports to travel to other countries for the purpose of tourism.