SOUTH KOREA/CHINA. China has today reinstated a COVID-19 test requirement upon arrival for all travellers from South Korea, a countermeasure against what the Chinese government calls “discriminatory entry restrictions against China” imposed by its near neighbour last month.
South Korea started suspending short-term visas for arriving Chinese visitors in early January after China reopened its borders and eased travel restrictions.
Citing officials and sources, South Korean news agency Yonhap reported that Chinese aviation authorities yesterday notified airlines operating between the two countries of its policy to conduct airport PCR tests for people arriving from South Korea starting today. Travellers who test positive should undergo isolation at quarantine facilities or be hospitalised.
Yesterday, South Korea’s Prime Minister said he will consider scrapping visa restrictions on tourists from China earlier than expected if the COVID-19 situation in the country improves.
According to Yonhap, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo told a press conference yesterday that authorities will finalise the decision to lift travel curbs after evaluating latest test results of Chinese travellers.
This came more than a week after the South Korean government announced plans to extend its suspension of short-term visas issued to travellers from China until the end of February. The latest policies by both countries have also hit passenger traffic volumes and duty free sales, according to a report by Reuters.
A spokesperson for Lotte Duty Free told Reuters that the suspension of short-term visa issuance and travel restrictions have made it difficult for Chinese peddlers {individual daigou traders -Ed} to travel and shop for duty free goods and resell them in China. ✈
