Global travel demand to and from mainland China recovering at strong pace, IATA chief says, but analysts cautious amid economic slowdown, geopolitical rifts

Global travel demand to and from mainland China is recovering at a “strong” pace, an international airline association head has said, but analysts have warned that the country’s economic slowdown and geopolitical tensions could hinder a return to pre-pandemic levels next year. IATA) director general Willie Walsh also told the Post the trade lobby had predicted that the mainland’s international travel demand would recover next year. “The pace of recovery since the market reopened earlier this year has been quite strong, so I think that is the reason we are optimistic about it going forward,” he said last week while on the sidelines of a media event at the association’s headquarters in Geneva. According to the association, international travel demand to and from the mainland remained 40% below pre-pandemic levels. The mainland accounted for 9% of all international air passenger demand before the Covid-19 pandemic in early 2020, it said. Figures from consultant McKinsey showed mainland travellers made more than 150m international trips in 2019, spending about US$1t. International travel to and from the mainland ground to a halt for about three years under Beijing’s stringent coronavirus curbs, before authorities lifted restrictions in January and resumed issuing tourist visas from March. The revival of the mainland’s international flight capacity from unprecedented lows is is taking time.<br/>