Welcome sounded for return of tourists

Embassies and tourism bureaus around the world have posted messages on China's social media platform Weibo, welcoming Chinese tourists again after Beijing's relaxation of the nation's COVID-19 control measures, including its immigration management policies.

"Welcome our Chinese friends with open arms!" the French embassy in China posted on its Weibo account in Chinese.

"Embrace spring, summer, autumn and winter, and travel in the Netherlands by bike in 2023!" the Netherlands Board of Tourism & Conventions in Beijing wrote on Weibo in Chinese.

From Jan 8, China will resume the issuance of passports to its citizens wanting to travel or visit friends overseas, and will also resume endorsements for Chinese mainland residents wanting to visit the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region for tourism and business purposes.

The country will resume foreigners' applications for the extension, renewal and re-issuance of ordinary visas, stay permits and residence permits, the National Immigration Administration of China said on Tuesday.

China will also lift flight restrictions starting from Jan 8, ending inbound international flight control measures known as the "Five One" policy, the Civil Aviation Administration of China said on Wednesday. The policy was named so because a country could previously send only one flight from one airline via a single route just once per week.

China announced earlier this week that it would manage COVID-19 with measures against Class B infectious diseases, instead of Class A infectious diseases, starting from Jan 8 next year.