The Chinese are angry with South Korea and Japan
Travel restrictions introduced as part of the reopening of the Chinese border perhaps Impact on where people book travel.
But it's not out of defiance, said several Chinese travelers who spoke to CNBC.
It's because some countries won't let them in, they said.
"I think it's unfair"
The reactions of Chinese travelers who spoke to CNBC varied, ranging from indifference to confusion to anger.
"Of course I think that's unfair," said one citizen who asked to be called Bonnie. "But at the same time we understand what's going on."
So far, more than a dozen countries have announced new rules for travelers from China. Last week the The European Union recommended this to its members require Chinese travelers to take Covid tests before entering the country.
But Covid testing isn't the problem, said Shaun Rein, chief executive of the China Market Research Group. said Squawk Box Asia on Monday. "This policy only targets mainland Chinese," he said.
China-based South African Mansoor Mohamed agreed. "It's relatively easy and cheap to get a Covid test in China, so it won't affect my travel planning," he said.
"However, I know that many patriotic Chinese colleagues and friends will avoid these countries for now because the practice of only testing passengers arriving from China is discriminatory," he said.
Of course, China demands Travelers must be tested negative before entering the country China, for three years.
The difference, Mohamed said, is that "every arrival [to China]including Chinese nationals… [is] subject to the same rules."
Where the Chinese are going
Gao Dan told CNBC that she plans to travel from Qinghai Province for the first time in more than two years. But she said she's staying in China, adding that she "hasn't looked into other countries' travel policies," according to a CNBC translation.
Others book trips abroad, but some not to their preferred destinations – namely Japan and South Korea.
A traveler named Bonnie told CNBC her friends in China would travel to Thailand rather than South Korea, although "they hadn't considered Thailand before."
Tuul & Bruno Morandi | The image database | Getty Images
"When China said it would open its borders in January, all my friends said they were going to Japan and Korea," Bonnie said.
But they couldn't get visas, she said. "So they're going to Thailand now."
Rein said Chinese travelers are now going to Singapore and Thailand because "both countries welcome us."
Of the top destinations searched by Chinese nationals after the border reopening announcement, these are the only two that haven't imposed new restrictions on inbound Chinese travelers.
Data shows that search interest for outbound flights from mainland China increased by 83% in the 11 days after the announcement, compared to the 14 days before, according to Trip.com Group data.
During that period, search interest for Thailand and Singapore increased by 176% and 93%, respectively, according to the company.
Angry at some more than others
Chinese officials called the rules from South Korea and others "excessive" and "discriminatory."
But South Korea has denied allegations of discrimination. Seung-ho Choi, a deputy director of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, pointed out to CNBC that the country's rules apply to "Korean nationals and non-Korean nationals from China… There is no discrimination based on nationality measurements. "
"China's Covid situation is still worsening," he said. The number of people who traveled from China to Korea and tested positive for Covid-19 increased 14-fold from November to December, he said.
The Office of the Prime Minister of Japan did not respond to CNBC's request for comment. A representative from the Japanese embassy in Singapore told CNBC that Japan is processing Chinese travel visa applications as usual.
Citing a discrepancy in infection information from China, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on Jan 27, 27: "To avoid a sharp surge in the influx of new cases into the country, we are focusing our efforts on immigration controls and airports," one said Article published by Nike Asia.
Both Japan and South Korea have taken conservative positions on the Covid pandemic.
Especially Japan has was sluggish to return to pre-pandemic life, show with residents little enthusiasm when their own border was fully reopened in October 2022.
"A Political Issue"
Rein told Squawk Box Asia that the rules aren't just about tourism.
"This is a political issue," he said, adding that he expects Japanese stocks to be hit, highlighting two cosmetics names.
Read more about China's reopening
"I would be careful with Shiseido. I would be careful with Kose because there will be some boycotts," he said. shares of hair
were lower on the Tokyo Stock Exchange on Tuesday Shiseido
was higher.
Rein said the hostility toward South Korea and Japan will be short-lived.
"It will take about three months for the anger to settle," he said. "There will be massive revenge trips outside of Korea to Japan – if those two countries treat Chinese right."
New Zealander Darren Straker, who lives and works in Shanghai, said he too believes the policy is politically motivated, calling it a "last sad gasp". [as] the geopolitical door of Covid is closing."
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