Over 80,000 tourists trapped in 'China's Hawaii' after COVID-19 outbreak | Inquirer News

Over 80,000 tourists trapped in ‘China’s Hawaii’ after COVID-19 outbreak

/ 04:49 PM August 07, 2022

sanya china

People enjoy bathing at Dadonghai beach in Sanya on China’s tropical Hainan Island on July 18, 2021. AFP

BEIJING — Over 80,000 tourists are stranded in a resort city popularly known as “China’s Hawaii” after a Covid flare-up led authorities to impose strict travel restrictions.

Tourism hotspot Sanya is a city of more than a million people on the southern island of Hainan, where 483 Covid cases were reported Sunday.

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All flights out of the city were canceled over the weekend, with authorities also halting train ticket sales.

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Tourists who want to leave must test negative in five PCR tests over seven days, health authorities said.

Hotels in the city have been asked to offer guests a 50 percent discount until the travel restrictions ease, an official said during a news briefing Saturday.

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China is the only major economy still holding fast to a zero-Covid strategy with snap lockdowns and long quarantines, battering local tourism.

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The country’s borders have also remained largely closed since early 2020, halting international tourism.

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The latest Covid outbreak comes during peak tourism season in Sanya, a popular surfing spot.

All entertainment venues including spas, karaoke bars and pubs have been closed since last week, but essential services such as supermarkets and pharmacies remain open.

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TAGS: China, COVID-19, Health, Sanya, Tourism

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