The first ‘green shoots’ of travel recovery from coronavirus in China has emerged, according to new data.
A “significant uplift” is now expected as Beijing lifted a 14-day quarantine requirement on trips between the capital and low-risk areas in China.
Travel analytics firm ForwardKeys revealed that domestic air travel in China had previously seen a slow recovery in the wake of the Covid-19 outbreak.
Destinations leading the tentative recovery are the commercial centres of Guangdong, Zhejiang, Shanghai, Sichuan and Yunnan.
Travel to Beijing has been extremely weak because the strictest travel restrictions have been in force in the capital city until today.
Travel to Shenzhen, one of the China’s first Special Economic Zones, and to Hainan island in the South China Sea, is likely to be indicative of the recovery trend as it develops, according to ForwardKeys.
But China has imposed heavy restrictions on international flights, with Chinese airlines allowed to only maintain one route per country and one flight a week – matched by foreign carriers.
It is estimated that there will be just 130 international flights to China a week and a maximum of 5,000 people a day entering and leaving the country.
ForwardKeys insights vice president Olivier Ponti said: “We have been expecting a jump in domestic flight bookings to occur as soon as domestic travel restrictions are eased and now that appears to be happening.
“It is currently still a little too early to see that trend in our flight data; but we expect to do so in the coming days, especially given the imminent Labour Day holiday.
“Whilst this looks like the emergence of the proverbial ‘green shoots’ of recovery; it is a domestic phenomenon; and Chinese international air traffic is still falling.”
He added: “If you are a hotelier with properties and clientele in the right parts of the People’s Republic, you can look forward to welcoming guests again.
“However, whilst it is encouraging to see air travel increasing within China, there is currently no indication that anyone outside China can yet look forward to the return of Chinese tourists.
“So, if you are a luxury goods retailer, seeking to sell to the Chinese market, the reality is that the only places to do so will be in China.”