China Takes Precautions Amid Expected Tourism Boom During Dragon Boat Festival

Strategic Insights -

As China eases travel restrictions, authorities and health experts are sounding the alarm on the potential risks of COVID-19 transmission during the upcoming Dragon Boat Festival. With a tourism boom expected, large-scale outbreaks are unlikely due to prevention measures in place and the country's experience in containing the virus spread, health experts said. However, travelers are still urged to take protective measures to increase vigilance against any outbreaks. To detect potential cases quickly, major cities are requiring residents to undergo regular nucleic acid testing.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Ministry of Culture and Tourism has issued a notice urging travelers to monitor the epidemic situation in their destinations and avoid visiting high-risk and medium-risk regions.
  • Inter-provincial group tours will be suspended if regions are designated as medium-risk or high-risk areas for COVID-19.
  • Dine-in services remain suspended in Beijing during the holidays, while shopping malls and scenic spots in non-epidemic regions can resume business under strict anti-epidemic measures.
  • Central China's Henan Province will issue yellow health QR codes to people entering the province, triggering strict anti-epidemic measures that will be lifted after two tests within three days.
  • A report by online travel agency Lvmama showed that inter-provincial travel will be the most popular choice of travelers during the holidays.
  • The risk of COVID-19 transmission and spread among cities and different categories of populations will increase during the holidays due to the expected tourism boom.
  • Health experts believe that the overall epidemic situation in the country has improved, and major outbreaks are unlikely during the Dragon Boat Festival.

Statistics:

  • 22 locally-transmitted confirmed COVID-19 cases were registered in China on Tuesday, a drastic drop from a peak of some 20,000 cases daily in April.
  • 17 cities with a population of more than 10 million across the country require residents to take nucleic acid testing regularly, with varying frequencies between 48 hours and every week.
  • Cangzhou in North China's Hebei Province requires residents to take a test every week, with male residents being tested on Mondays and females on Thursdays.
  • China's COVID-19 cases have decreased dramatically since the peak in April, with only 22 locally-transmitted cases reported on Tuesday.
  • The number of COVID-19 cases in China has declined significantly since the peak in April, with Tuesday's report showing a drastic drop.

Sources:

  • "China takes precautions as Dragon Boat Festival approaches amid expected tourism boom" (Global Times, May 29, 2022)
  • "Notice on implementing strict prevention measures during the Dragon Boat Festival" (Ministry of Culture and Tourism, June 2022)
  • "Beijing relaxes restrictions as latest round of epidemic flare-up is curbed" (Global Times, June 2022)