China has resumed outbound group tours to selected countries for the first time in three years, prompting many travel lovers to immediately end their break from foreign trips.

The government had banned domestic travel agents from selling overseas travel packages since January 2020 after the coronavirus had first spread in China.

The ban was partially lifted on Monday(February 5, 2023). But destinations are limited to 20 countries, such as Thailand, Indonesia, Russia, and the United Arab Emirates.

At an airport in Guangzhou in the southern province of Guangdong, employees from local travel agents saw off customers preparing to fly soon after midnight.

A man in his 60s, who is on a tour to Egypt, regretted a three-year break from foreign travel, and expressed his readiness to splurge during the trip.

Chinese travel agents have boosted their efforts to sell outbound group tours following the government decision. One agency in Guangdong says all the tours it offered are fully booked.

There are also said to be many inquiries coming in on tours to countries for which the ban is yet to be lifted, such as Japan and South Korea.(NHK)