The number of flight bookings in and out of mainland China has increased significantly over the last week, just days after the country announced it would lift COVID-19 restrictions for travelers.
The number of airline tickets flying out of China increased 254% on Tuesday morning compared to the day before, according to flight data by Trip.com Group — marking a significant increase less than 24 hours after the China National Health Commission announced it would rein in several of the country’s strictest COVID-19 protocols.The loosened restrictions will end the country’s requirements for travelers to quarantine for eight days upon arrival beginning on Jan.
The country also saw a massive surge of inbound flights, which increased 412% during the same time period, the data show. The majority of those out-of-country travelers are coming from Australia, Germany, Japan, Singapore, and Hong Kong. Chinese officials began loosening these restrictions in late November amid widespread protests in the country, as residents claimed the COVID-19 lockdown protocols hindered rescue efforts in a recent fire that killed 10 people.
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