As China relaxes its Covid-19 restrictions, Southeast Asian economies are preparing for an influx of tourists.
Before the pandemic, Chinese tourists made up a quarter of all visitors to ASEAN nations, The Diplomat reports. China sent more tourists abroad than any other country in 2020, and Chinese tourists spent $277 billion abroad in 2018, according to a UN World Tourism and China Tourism Academy study.
With Chinese tourists able to leave the country with few restrictions for the first time in nearly three years, analysts expect tourism to nearby destinations to be the first form of international travel to return, the New York Times reports. While the US, Australia and some members of the EU have announced Covid requirements for travelers coming from China, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Cambodia and Malaysia have abstained from such restrictions.
Dan Keeler is founder and editor-in-chief at Frontier Markets News and the founder and host of FMN’s podcast.
Prior to founding FMN, Dan was Editor, Frontier Markets at the Wall Street Journal.
