Originally Posted by
YVR Cockroach
I think it's more likely the PRC government is only permitting tourism to countries that are not hostile. Canada, U.S. and Australia (and might as well throw in the other "Five Eyes" nations, U.K. and N.Z.) are deemed hostile so at the receiving end of what is essentially a trade embargo.
Airfares between China and Australia are back down to pre-pandemic levels, unlike the prices between China and North America. I just flew to Australia from China on a business class return ticket for around CNY15,000.
Yes inbound tourism in Australia is way down, but it's not all due to politics. To my surprise, NZ still has a mandatory seven-day self-isolation after testing positive.