Foreign Tourism
Aug 19, 2023 | 5:16 am
#46
Join Date: May 2010
Location: AVP & PEK
Programs: UA 1K 2MM
Posts: 7,868
Aug 19, 2023 | 6:45 pm
#48
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: HKG
Posts: 1,397
The figures are retrospective. They're looking at the first six months of 2023. Until 8/Feb, China still had mandatory quarantine for inbound passengers. International flights didn't really ramp back up until late Q2.
Aug 19, 2023 | 9:49 pm
#49
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 11,259
I believe it was January 8th that the jailing of inbound passengers stopped. Nonetheless youre right in that flights didnt really ramp up until March/April.
Aug 20, 2023 | 11:22 am
#50
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2020
Programs: SQ Gold, Marriott Lifetime Platinum, Caesars Diamond, Hilton Diamond, Atmos Silver, IHG Platinum
Posts: 2,229
Super anecdotal evidence: I see a bunch of my non-Chinese friends (20-30s) visiting Taiwan in the past few months. About the same number also visit HK. None of them visit China.
My friends who visit China are all Chinese.
My friends who visit China are all Chinese.
Aug 20, 2023 | 2:03 pm
#51
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: FRA/SXB
Programs: FB Silver; Accor Silver
Posts: 4,267
Well, for starters, the visa requirement for many nationalities turns off a lot of people who do casual tourism. The HK and Taiwan region don't require visas for many western countries' citizens.
Aug 20, 2023 | 2:10 pm
#52
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2020
Programs: SQ Gold, Marriott Lifetime Platinum, Caesars Diamond, Hilton Diamond, Atmos Silver, IHG Platinum
Posts: 2,229
Well I know that. But this same set of people wasn't going to Taiwan pre covid (some were going to HK) and at least some of them were going to China (yes, they got visas).
The free 3 year visa extension is not well known and maybe people's visas have expired and they don't care to renew
The free 3 year visa extension is not well known and maybe people's visas have expired and they don't care to renew
Aug 20, 2023 | 6:16 pm
#53
Join Date: Nov 2006
Programs: Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum
Posts: 4,707
It's interesting that people are rushing back to Japan despite its anti-foreigner sentiment during COVID.
Aug 20, 2023 | 8:10 pm
#54
Join Date: Nov 2006
Programs: Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum
Posts: 4,707
Even before Covid, I always thought China, unlike all other countries I've been to, was an alternate universe. All the major Western tech platforms don't work (Google, gmail, FB, Youtube, Google Maps, Uber, etc), and the massive crowds of domestic tourists suggest little need for foreign tourists. It just intensified recently.
On one hand, self-sufficient domestic tourism is a pride very few major countries can enjoy. This is just part of the mosaic of self-reliance China has been working towards.
On the other hand, it makes it highly unattractive to foreigners.
On one hand, self-sufficient domestic tourism is a pride very few major countries can enjoy. This is just part of the mosaic of self-reliance China has been working towards.
On the other hand, it makes it highly unattractive to foreigners.
Aug 20, 2023 | 8:14 pm
#55
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: HKG
Posts: 1,397
You're right. The quarantine was removed in Jan. What was reopened in Feb was the land crossings between China and Hong Kong.
Aug 20, 2023 | 8:45 pm
#56
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2020
Programs: SQ Gold, Marriott Lifetime Platinum, Caesars Diamond, Hilton Diamond, Atmos Silver, IHG Platinum
Posts: 2,229
Even before Covid, I always thought China, unlike all other countries I've been to, was an alternate universe. All the major Western tech platforms don't work (Google, gmail, FB, Youtube, Google Maps, Uber, etc), and the massive crowds of domestic tourists suggest little need for foreign tourists. It just intensified recently.
On one hand, self-sufficient domestic tourism is a pride very few major countries can enjoy. This is just part of the mosaic of self-reliance China has been working towards.
On the other hand, it makes it highly unattractive to foreigners.
On one hand, self-sufficient domestic tourism is a pride very few major countries can enjoy. This is just part of the mosaic of self-reliance China has been working towards.
On the other hand, it makes it highly unattractive to foreigners.
Aug 21, 2023 | 5:27 am
#57
Join Date: Nov 2006
Programs: Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum
Posts: 4,707
I know what you mean. It's fascinating for sure. But unlike say Japan, this alternate universe isn't particularly welcoming to foreigners, hence the lack of visit.
Aug 21, 2023 | 6:31 am
#58
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 46,382
Aug 21, 2023 | 7:15 am
#59
Join Date: Jan 2005
Programs: SQ, QF, UA, AA, DL, BR
Posts: 3,914
Japan at least has tourism promotion and ad campaigns. In either May or June landing at NRT there was an Intenational Milk Day and Hokkaido promotion booth as you left Customs. And I got free milk! Can anyone remember the last time they saw an ad campaign for overseas tourists to go to China?
I think for many countries international travel is not just for the economic benefits but also represents connection to the rest of the world, being integrated into the world fabric. That's just not where "Beijing" is at the moment.
Aug 21, 2023 | 8:42 am
#60
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 46,382
What makes you say this? Struggling to see similarities between MN and Japan....
Japan at least has tourism promotion and ad campaigns. In either May or June landing at NRT there was an Intenational Milk Day and Hokkaido promotion booth as you left Customs. And I got free milk! Can anyone remember the last time they saw an ad campaign for overseas tourists to go to China?
I think for many countries international travel is not just for the economic benefits but also represents connection to the rest of the world, being integrated into the world fabric. That's just not where "Beijing" is at the moment.
Japan at least has tourism promotion and ad campaigns. In either May or June landing at NRT there was an Intenational Milk Day and Hokkaido promotion booth as you left Customs. And I got free milk! Can anyone remember the last time they saw an ad campaign for overseas tourists to go to China?
I think for many countries international travel is not just for the economic benefits but also represents connection to the rest of the world, being integrated into the world fabric. That's just not where "Beijing" is at the moment.