That could mark a significant change in the international travel market, to which Chinese tourists are outsized contributors.
In the first half of that year alone, their outbound travel spend surpassed $127.5 billion, a study from Chinese travel booking site Ctrip.com found.
Chinese outbound travel is forecast to recover around two-thirds of its pre-pandemic levels in 2023.
Leopatrizi | E+ | Getty ImagesBecause of those shortcomings, countries that can accommodate Chinese travelers' shifting needs have emerged as clear winners.
Thailand, for instance, offers visas-on-arrival to fully vaccinated Chinese tourists who have travel insurance.