China fully opened its borders to foreign tourists on March 15 for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic, even as certain regions are battling the spread of what officials claim is the flu.
On March 15, Beijing resumed issuing all types of visas. Visa-free destinations such as Hainan Island, popular among Russians, are now open to foreigners. Visa-free entry for foreigners to Guangdong province from Macau and Hong Kong has also resumed, which is expected to be a positive development for the province’s high-end hotels. With the relaxation of visa rules, Beijing removed the last cross-border control measure it had imposed in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Foreigners who received visas before March 28, 2020, can still use them to enter the country.
