China lifts bans on group travel to European Countries and other places

China on Thursday lifted COVID-19-related travel restrictions that barred group tours for a number of countries worldwide. The decision means Chinese tourists traveling in groups can now visit countries like the United States, Germany, Japan and South Korea, among other places. China’s Tourism Ministry on Thursday said outbound tourism had been developing in a stable manner since the start of the trial period, It’s the latest move towards reopening after China abruptly reversed course and abandoned its “zero-COVID” strategy involving strict lockdowns and draconian travel controls at the end of last year. There were mixed reactions to the news on Chinese social media. While some posted comments saying that they weren’t enthusiastic about international travel, others were more upbeat. Are Covid-19 restrictions necessary in 2023 ?