China reinitiates organized trips to more Latin American countries

Beijing, Aug 10 (EFE).- China on Thursday included Mexico, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela and Equatorial Guinea in the third batch of countries to which it organizes tourism trips after abandoning its “zero Covid-19” policy at the beginning of the year.

In a statement, the country’s culture ministry said Chinese tourists traveling in organized groups would be able to visit 82 more countries, in addition to the previous 40 of the first two batches that included Uruguay, Chile, Brazil, Panama, the Dominican Republic and El Salvador.

Likewise, some of the most popular destinations among international travelers, such as the United States or the United Kingdom, will once again be available to tour in groups.

At the beginning of February, Beijing again allowed group tourism to about 20 countries, including popular destinations in the region such as Thailand or Indonesia, as well as nations such as Cuba and Argentina.

More than 170,000 Chinese tourists visited Mexico in 2019, the last year before the pandemic, and the Latin American country set a goal of reaching 200,000 in the next five years, former Mexican tourism secretary Miguel Torruco told China’s state agency CGTN.

“I am very pleased to tell you that China is already the first country that sends tourists from the Asian continent to Mexico, which fills us with encouragement, satisfaction and commits us to continue working hand in hand with our Chinese brothers,” he added. EFE

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