SHENZHEN: People looking to head into or out of China may have to wait until the middle of this year before travel returns to pre-pandemic normalcy, said industry players.
Ms Jane Sun, the chief executive of China’s largest online travel platform Trip.com Group, said it could take some time for travel providers globally to ramp up to pre-pandemic levels. According to data from Trip.com Group, search interest for outbound flights from mainland China rose by 83 per cent from Dec 26 to Jan 5, when compared to the previous two-week period.
The 39-year-old Wuhan native used to visit more than 10 countries each year and did travel-related content full-time. It will also be the first time in three years since her Chinese-born husband, Mr James Zheng, has been back. China’s aviation authorities aim to bring air travel traffic back to 75 per cent of pre-pandemic levels this year, as travellers look forward to more visits and reunions.
Its abrupt relaxation of tough restrictions under its zero-COVID policy has led to the coronavirus sweeping across the country, with some estimates suggesting millions are being infected daily. At the Shenzhen Airport on Sunday, many eagerly waited for their friends, families and colleagues at the international arrival hall, which had been put out of use over the last three years.
The reunion has been more than half a year in the making, and is the first time the couple have seen each other in person since they found out they were expecting a baby.