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Online search for Chinese flights After Beijing reduced its COVID-19 quarantine requirements and made changes to state-mandated mobile apps used for local travel, it surged on domestic and international routes on Wednesday.
Unexpected moves have left harsh measures, including a shortage of international flights, and while many social media users have warned, they have significantly reduced travel and significantly eased the harsh curbs that hit the Chinese economy. is showing.
The Ministry of Industry said on Wednesday that China’s mobile app, which shows whether a person has traveled to a city in China in a COVID-affected area, will no longer mark its history with an asterisk. Possible spread.
China slashes COVID quarantine time for international travelers
The asterisk helped local governments impose regulations such as quarantine and COVID testing, causing widespread complaints.
“It looks like a small step, but it’s a pretty big step,” the user wrote to Weibo, like Twitter. The announcement quickly became a top topic with over 200 million views.
It was the day after Beijing relaxed quarantine rules, Shanghai shut down China’s largest city after a two-month blockade, and infuriated residents, and then resumed eating at restaurants.
Two policies have led to a surge in travel inquiries.
Thirty minutes after Wednesday’s announcement, the Qunar platform reports that ticket searches have increased by 60% and hotel searches have doubled.
Rival Ly.com reported a similar rise, demonstrating a surge in interest in tickets to China from Japan, Singapore, South Korea and others.
Wait and see the approach
China’s Zero-COVID policy has almost completely wiped out international business and leisure travel, but domestic travel has also been against the outbreak of highly infectious Omicron variants that have led to dramatic blockades in some cities. It was hit hard by China’s response.
This week’s mitigation follows the recent dramatic reduction in local infections.
Ben Cavender, Managing Director of the China Market Research Group, said:
China vows to stick to its harsh curb while the rest of the world is trying to live with the virus, and President Xi Jinping reiterated that the strategy is “correct and effective” and should be firmly adhered to. rice field.
Many travelers said they are taking a wait-and-see approach before booking tickets on social media and chat rooms. Essential.
Most flights to China are limited to filling 75% of seats. The country also has a “circuit breaker” system, which requires airlines to suspend flights if there are a certain number of COVID-positive passengers.
According to consultancy Variflight, the number of international flights this year, including Macau, Hong Kong and Taiwan on Tuesday, was about 4% of pre-COVID levels.
Shanghai lifts “irrational” curbs on businesses, Beijing relaxes restrictions
Ticket prices are much higher than usual.One-way ticket from Singapore Business hub in Shanghai, China For example, from July to September, China Eastern Airlines costs between 50,000 and 70,000 yuan ($ 7,460 to $ 1,590).
“There are very few flights and very high ticket prices. In fact, we can’t arrange international group trips,” said Zhou Weihiro, vice president of the Shanghai-based travel agency Spring Tour. Stated.