
Beijing no longer allows its solvent middle class to leave the country. Vacations abroad have thus become a distant dream for the Chinese – the once most popular destinations are already feeling the effects.
By Redaktion Table
Where hundreds of guests used to come in and out each day, the doors are now locked most of the time: The Pudong Shangri-La Hotel in Shanghai is now a quarantine hotel. General Manager Gregor Wateler hopes the luxury establishment can resume normal operations by the end of the month. Frank Sieren spoke with Wateler.
By Frank Sieren
China is getting past the Covid pandemic. During the May Day holiday, consumer sentiment has, in some cases, surpassed pre-crisis 2019 levels. The development fits Beijing's new economic strategy. But there are also problems: The gaps are growing, not only between rich and poor.
By Frank Sieren
Chinese tourists were ridiculed in many places in Europe. Now that they are staying away because of Covid, the tourism industry is suffering. In Switzerland and Berlin, the number of overnight stays by guests from the Far East fell by up to 98 percent last year compared to the same period in the previous year. In China, there are strict quarantine rules for returning travelers.
By Felix Lee