Contradicting concerns that tourist hotspots will be strained once again by Chinese revelers, travel agencies are struggling to persuade people to book trips. | News24_Business
As borders reopen, many Chinese consumers are staying put.China's 1.4 billion residents endured the strictest mobility curbs of the pandemic, largely cut off from the world for 3 yearsDuring last year’s bruising Covid lockdown in Shanghai, Qin Bing dreamed of traveling overseas. As China reopens its border on Sunday after three years of Covid isolation, however, the 36-year-old marketing manager is staying put.
China's 1.4 billion residents endured the strictest mobility curbs of the pandemic, largely cut off from the world for three years as the government pursued a zero tolerance approach. The pent-up demand was expected to unleash a surge of travel and spending after China scrapped its quarantine starting this Sunday.
"Most consumers aren't mentally ready to travel to another country right after recovering from Covid," said Chen Xin, head of China leisure and transport research at UBS."We may need to wait until next year at the earliest to see the outbound travel return to pre-Covid levels."Flights leaving China in the first quarter are at 10.7% of pre-pandemic levels, though they are more than double the anemic rates from a year ago, according to aviation analytics company Cirium.
Hoteliers in Phuket, the southern island famed for its white sand beaches, are anticipating a slow Lunar New Year. Mainland tourists aren't expected to arrive in large numbers, said Suksit Suvunditkul, president of the Thai Hotels Association Southern Chapter and chief executive officer of Deevana Hotels and Resorts.
"Singapore is just not ready to handle the sudden influx," said Stanley Foo, founder and managing partner at Oriental Travel & Tours in Singapore."I'm most worried about the manpower shortages in attractions. We can’t even handle the current number of visitors."
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