The recent COVID-19 outbreak has hit the world in a multitude of ways, one of the most drastic being suspending travel to China. Even before the first official reports of the virus, China had implemented a mandatory lockdown in the Hubei province and forbade the entry of international travelers. As the virus spread and began to affect other countries, other travel restrictions to and from China were implemented, such as the U.S. ban on foreign nationals traveling from China, effective February 2nd 2020. This travel ban affected not only travelers entering China, but imposed restrictions on those currently in the country as well. With the gradual spread of the virus out of China and the increasing number of cases in other countries, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Level 3 Health Warning in January 2020 urging travelers to avoid all nonessential travel to China.
The Chinese government responded to the virus by implementing much stricter travel restrictions, banning most international travel while allowing Chinese citizens to reenter the country. Those citizens that are allowed to reenter the country must undergo a 14-day quarantine and have their temperature and health condition monitored. In addition to the travel ban, Chinese government expelled millions of students studying abroad, as part of an effort to contain the virus from entering other countries. In some universities, students have been required to self-isolate or leave the country entirely. Companies in China have mandated that their employees in foreign countries return home, and those that are in China have been subjected to strict health screenings, requests for medical certifications, and quarantines when possible.
The economic consequences of suspending travel to and from China are far reaching. As the largest-trading nation in the world, the suspension of travel in and out of China has slowed down the flow of global trade and has caused a decline in economic activity. For example, some of the major airlines servicing China have had to cut flights, causing a decrease in ticket prices and a significant decrease in entry-level jobs. This affect has been felt globally, including in the United States where Chinese tourism has dropped drastically. Businesses and travelers have had to consider turning to other destinations and have resulted in the overall depression of the global services industry.
The effects of suspending travel to China are not only economic in nature. China is an important cultural and scientific contributor to the world and the inability to travel there has affected the global community in many ways. From the perspective of the international student, the suspension has meant that travel to China has become more difficult and more uncertain. It has also created a great deal of stress for those already in the country, as the uncertainty of the situation in China has increased. Furthermore, the suspension has also meant that important investment projects are no longer feasible due to the lack of international travel to and from the country.
Another consequence of suspending travel to China is the disruption of multinational organisations’ operations in the country, as well as the greater effect on the ability to communicate between China and other stakeholders in multinational operations. The continued disruption of travel to and from the country has led to a sense of uncertainty among international companies, who have to navigate complex decision points while defining the proper level of operations within the country. This has created a sense of tension and mistrust between the countries, with the ability to travel a primary factor in this trust.
Consequences to Tourism and Aviation
The tourism and aviation industry has been most directly affected by the suspension of travel to and from China. The industry has been hit hard by a decrease in passenger demand and a subsequent decrease in revenues. According to data from the International Air Transport Association, passenger revenue from the airline industry declined 8.1% year-on-year in 2020, with a drop of 5.5% in international travel. The suspension of travel between China and the rest of the world has also impacted tourism. Data from the World Tourism Organization indicate that international tourist arrivals decreased by 4.7% in 2020 compared to the previous year.
In addition to lost revenue, the travel and tourism industry has also had to contend with a rise in associated costs. Airlines have had to bear the cost of plane rearrangements, and tourist attractions have had to manage the cost of employee layoffs and furloughs to compensate for decreased revenue. The industry has also had to grapple with the increasing cost of international travel insurance, and the increased costs of sanitation products and cleaning crews needed to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
The travel and aviation industry have tried to manage their losses with a variety of strategies including expanding market sources to increase passenger numbers, cutting costs, and finding new revenue streams. Several airlines have implemented policies in order to accommodate the needs of travelers, such as offering flexible flight cancellation options and reformulating travel packages to make them more attractive to travelers. Travel and tourism organizations have also worked to increase education and awareness of safe and responsible travel practices to reduce the spread of the virus.
Effects on the Economy
The effects of the suspension of travel to China have been particularly felt on the global economy as the virus has had an expansive, global impact. According to the World Bank, the pandemic is estimated to cost global Gross Domestic Product (GDP) more than $2 trillion, and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) projects that the global economy will contract by 3.2% in 2020. This decline in economic output is due in large part to the disruption of global supply chains that has resulted from the suspension of travel and the lack of free movement of goods.
Given the global nature of the pandemic, the economic effects of suspending travel to China have been felt by all markets and sectors, including oil and gas, manufacturing, financial services, and technology. Countries that are more reliant on international trade and goods from China have been particularly hard hit. The Chinese government has responded to the situation by implementing a variety of economic stimulus packages to support the economy, including launching a $28 billion package to help domestic companies and encouraging firms to resume operations.
The travel and aviation industry have also been disproportionately impacted by the global pandemic, with airlines being particularly hard hit. According to data from the International Air Transport Association, global airlines’ revenues decreased by 43% from 2019 to 2020 as a result of the suspension of travel to and from China. The industry has responded by cutting flights, decreasing ticket prices, and instituting cost-cutting measures. Nonetheless, the long-term effects of the suspension of travel to and from China will continue to be felt, and the industry will likely take some time to recover.
Effects on International Relations
The suspension of travel has had an impact on international relations as well. Countries have had to reconsider their diplomatic efforts and relations, particularly those involving China. Bejing’s outreaching efforts have been hampered due to the lack of physical diplomacy which could affect their politcical relations for the foreseeable future. The lack of ability to travel has also lead to decreased diplomatic dialogue, making it difficult for countries to collaborate and respond to important issues such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
The restrictions on travel have also created a greater difficulty in accessing vital information and research. China is home to much of the world’s scientific knowledge, and the inability to collaborate with Chinese experts and institutions has made it more challenging to access data and information. Furthermore, the lack of international travel means that researchers have to rely on digital collaboration more, which is not always as effective as in-person collaboration. This has had a slow-down effect in the research and knowledge-sharing throughout the world.
The suspension of travel to and from China has also increased the levels of tension between the two countries, particularly between the US government and Chinese citizens. In the US, there has been much debate around the use of visas for Chinese students studying in the US, and restrictions on Chinese journalists and scholars working in the US. This has caused an air of mistrust and political instability which could have a long term effect on US-China relations.
Health Implications
The suspension of travel to and from China has had an impact on public health, as well. The ability to travel and move freely between countries has historically been critical in identifying and responding to disease outbreaks. As the virus spread out of China and into other countries, the suspension of travel has made it more difficult for the international community to collaborate and respond to the pandemic. This has resulted in a slower response, and hindered the international community’s ability to share knowledge and resources in order to combat the virus.
The suspension of travel has also had implications on public health in terms of identifying new cases and monitoring the spread of the virus. Several governments have implemented travel restrictions to prevent the spread of the virus to new areas, however there is still much uncertainty surrounding the effectiveness of these measures. Additionally, the decreased ability to travel has made it more difficult to access medical treatments and critical care in another countries, making it harder for patients to receive the care they need.
Furthermore, the suspension of travel to and from China has led to a decrease in the number of international medical volunteers being able to work in China. The lack of international medical workers has led to a decrease in access to medical treatments, as well as an increase in wait times for medical appointments for those already living in the country.
Environmental Consequences
The suspension of travel to and from China has had consequences on the environment as well. There has been an increase in air pollution as a result of the decreased movement of people and goods, leading to a decrease in air quality. This has led to health risks including an increase in respiratory problems and other diseases. Additionally, due to the lack of international travel there has been a decrease in the use of public and private transportation, resulting in decreased emissions of carbon dioxide.
The decrease in air travel has also had an impact on fuel consumption. According to data from the International Air Transport Association, global airline fuel consumption decreased 13% in 2020 compared to 2019, reducing the emission of hazardous substances into the atmosphere. This results in a decrease in air pollution and can have a measurable effect on climate change in the long run.
The suspension of travel has also had a noticeable effect on global tourism. This has led to a decrease in emissions of carbon dioxide from airplanes to other countries, as well as a decrease in the number of people traveling to other countries for leisure purposes. Additionally, this has also caused a decrease in emissions of air pollutants such as nitrogen oxides and particulate matter from cars and other transportation.
Conclusion
The suspension of travel to and from China has had a far-reaching effect across the globe. Some of these effects can be seen in the disruption of supply chains, economic downturn, and loss of jobs in the travel and aviation industry. Furthermore, the suspension has also had implications on public health, international relations, and the environment. As we continue to effect of the pandemic, it is clear that the termination of travel