The UK is to abolish the need for travellers flying from China to take a pre-departure Covid test.
The requirement will end on April 4, just ahead of the Easter long weekend.
The government imposed the need to obtain a negative Covid-19 test before boarding flights from China on January 5 – just ahead of China lifting a ban on international travel.
The Covid testing requirement was described as a precautionary and temporary measure to improve the UK’s ability to detect potential new variants from China.
However, the Foreign Office confirmed in an updated travel advisory on Friday that the rule for passengers travelling to England from mainland China will end at 11.59pm on April 4.
However, the advice added: “If you plan to pass through another country to return to the UK, check the travel advice for the relevant country.”
The relaxation of the temporary measure came after the Chinese government lifted an embargo on issuing visas to international tourists, with Wendy Wu Tours resuming escorted tours to the country from May 21.
The reopening of China’s borders to overseas tourists after three years of restrictions during the pandemic is being seen as providing a major boost to the global travel industry.