Thailand may have stretched out its welcoming arms to China but the identical can’t be stated of different countries, especially Morocco which has banned all mainland tourists from getting into the African nation.
Thailand Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn on Saturday was quoted as saying that his ministry was “very pleased to be taught that China will implement new border management measures from January eight onward,” including that this was “long-awaited excellent news for Thailand.” But China has not been afforded an identical welcome by different international locations.
Canada and Australia imposed temporary pre-flight Covid-19 tests for travellers from China, including Hong Kong, and Macau, from Thursday, January 5, reported Bangkok Post.
The United States, Britain, Israel, Spain, France, Japan, South Korea, and India had already taken comparable measures.
Morocco has gone one step further and banned all arrivals from China, regardless of nationality, as issues develop that mainland vacationers will promote a new wave of Covid-19.
The Moroccan Foreign Ministry final night said that all travellers arriving from China from tomorrow shall be denied entry.
“In light of the evolution of the health situation associated to Covid-19 in China … and to keep away from a new wave of contaminations in Morocco and all its penalties … access to the territory of the Kingdom of Morocco [will be prohibited] to all travellers coming from the People’s Republic of China, regardless of their nationality.
“The latest measures don’t in any method affect the robust friendship between the 2 peoples, and the strategic partnership between the 2 nations.”
Morocco did not declare how long the ban would stay in place on vacationers from China.
In Priceless , about 200,000 Chinese tourists visited the North African nation and earlier than the pandemic in 2019 the government had plans in place to draw 500,000 Chinese travellers yearly.
China final month abandoned its strict zero-Covid strategy of mass testing, lockdowns and border controls after almost three years of restrictions.
The Chinese government then made it known final week that all border controls can be lifted on January 8, that means international arrivals not needed to quarantine and mainland residents may apply for passports.
China’s determination to relax restrictions triggered alarm within the international neighborhood lengthy suspicious of the Chinese vaccines not being as strong as their Western counterparts and concerns over the emergence of latest coronavirus variants and infections.
Canadian Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos stated the restrictions have been “necessary” to keep Canada safe within the face of the pandemic.
“Travellers will be asked if they’d been to mainland China, Hong Kong or Macau in the previous 10 days.
“The guidelines, which cowl passengers aged two and over, would apply regardless of nationality or vaccination standing.”
Australian Health Minister Mark Butler stated yesterday that the choice to introduce pre-departure Covid checks is in response to the significant wave of infections in China.
“Authorities had taken under consideration the dynamic and evolving state of affairs in China and the potential for brand new variants to emerge in an surroundings of excessive transmission.”
China has been battling a wave of Covid infections which has overwhelmed the mainland’s hospitals and mortuaries..