Urs Kessler, who runs Jungfrau Railways, a train that takes tourists up the highest mountain in Switzerland, was excited for the return of Chinese tourists after COVID-19 restrictions were lifted late last year.
But barring one small group in February and a few larger ones expected in May, few have materialised.
The travel industry is also grappling with cash-strapped domestic holidaymakers looking for cheaper vacations as energy and food bills rise. This summer, the second since Europe's COVID restrictions ended, is a test for airports and airlines,"There's still a long way to go to full recovery," said Olivier Ponti, an executive at ForwardKeys.
Before the pandemic, Chinese tourism made up 10% of stays from non-EU tourists in Europe, with the market growing 350% in the decade to 2019, driven by a particular interest inBut bogged down by visa restrictions, long passport wait lines and limited airline tickets to Europe, which are in some cases 80% more expensive than before the pandemic, Chinese tourists are staying closer to home.to places like Hong Kong, where arrivals were up 1,400% in the last two months, or Thailand and Macau.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Doctors say rare COVID psychosis case speaks to increase in post-COVID mental health issuesPost-COVID illnesses are not just physical. Many can come in the form of depression, anxiety and in extremely rare cases, severe disorganized thinking.
Read more »
Europe's exoplanet-hunting CHEOPS mission extended through 2026'We have only scratched the surface of the capabilities of CHEOPS.'
Read more »
Europe's top spring break destinations eclipse US beaches as travelers flock overseasMany Americans' top vacation destinations this spring are in Europe, with lower prices, milder weather and loosening travel restrictions driving people overseas.
Read more »
How Europe's ExoMars rover will get to Mars without Russia | Digital TrendsExoMars was supposed to be a joint Europe-Russia mission. But the rover will now be sent to Mars using a European lander instead.
Read more »
American natural gas helped Europe avert catastrophe (Opinion)After Russian President Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine, U.S. producers exported 140...
Read more »
EU Vote for Digital ID Latest Step in the ‘Chinaficaiton of Europe’ - MEPA European Parliament vote for bloc-wide digital IDs is the latest step towards the “Chinafication of Europe”, an MEP has claimed.
Read more »