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China opens borders to foreign tourists. For the first time in 3 years
China only dropped its restrictive “zero COVID” policy in January. The country hopes the new entry rules will rebuild its tourism industry.
The coronavirus pandemic was a major challenge for the whole world. Each country introduced its own restrictions, which sometimes differed. Many rules were similar. For example, wearing masks, social distance and regular disinfection. The first months of 2020 were also a time of hard lockdown, during which some places in the world were completely isolated and closed to foreign tourists.
China has had a restrictive “zero COVID” policy for two years.
The first outbreak of the coronavirus occurred in China. Although to this day it is still unclear exactly where the virus may have originated from, the country was the first to implement strictures that often drew criticism around the world. The so-called zero COVID policy was in effect for more than two years, and the first changes to the pandemic control strategy did not come until late 2022.
The authorities eventually changed their policies in the face of the worsening economic situation and massive public protests. What’s more, official communiqués also stated that China had “won a victory” over the coronavirus. In January…
