China’s skyway, which has rarely been opened even after reopening, is returning to before the spread of COVID-19. The number of international flights has recovered to 50% of the previous year, and additional routes are expected to resume by the end of the year. Some regions have actively attracted tourists by promoting visa-free tourism benefits.
According to data from China’s Civil Aviation Administration on the 15th, the number of regular international passenger flights operated by Chinese and foreign airlines from the 2nd to the 8th was 4,240. This is about 55.6% of 2019. As of the first half of this year, the recovery rate remained around 30%.From the 2nd to the 8th of this month, Chinese airlines operated 2,729 international flights, accounting for 64.4%, recovering to 57.5% compared to 2019. Foreign airlines operated 1,511 flights, accounting for 35.6 percent. The recovery rate is 42.5% in 2019.
Based on the route recovery rate, routes to and from China to Singapore, the Middle East, the United Kingdom, and the United Arab Emirates amounted to 80%. The Beijing Daily reported, “China’s Civil Aviation Administration announced that it would further consider resuming and increasing international passenger flights by domestic and overseas airlines and actively promote them in cooperation with related departments to implement accurate policies.”
Starting at the end of the year, some international routes will also be added. Hainan Airlines has said it will resume flights between Chongqing and Paris from November 28. It is Hainan Airlines’ second direct flight to France, following the Shenzhen-Paris route. China Eastern Airlines will add new routes to Shanghai (Pudong) – Busan, Shanghai (Pudong) – Nagoya and Kunming – Kathmandu within this month. Direct flights between Shanghai (Pudong) and Brisbane will resume at the end of this month.
China has recently been eager to attract visitors, allowing group tourists to enter the country without visas. According to China’s Ministry of Public Security and the National Immigration Service, foreigners are exempted from visas for 15 days if they travel on a group cruise in Shanghai. It is possible for a group of two or more foreigners to enter Shanghai Port through a travel agency in China, and must carry out the same schedule and leave the country on one cruise. The range of activities is coastal areas and Beijing City.
Hainan Province allows visa-free travel for 30 days by inviting travel agencies, inviting companies, and applying for their own applications to 59 countries, including Korea. Arrivals can only pass within Hainan Province. In addition, Guilin, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, will be exempted from 144 hours (6 days) visa for 10 ASEAN countries, and if you enter Guangdong through Hong Kong and Macau travel agencies, you can travel for 144 hours without a visa.
EJ SONG
US ASIA JOURNAL
