China reopening borders to foreign tourists for first time since Covid erupted

China is to resume issuing visas to foreign tourists for the first time since the Covid pandemic broke out three years ago. From 15 March, foreign offices can process applications for Chinese visas. Valid visas issued before China closed to the world on 28 March 2020 will be honoured again. The removal of the last cross-border restrictions imposed to tackle Covid marks a major step towards the resumption of normal life in post-pandemic China. Tens of millions of international visitors came to China each year prior to the pandemic, and its tourism industry has been hard hit by strict anti-Covid measures. China said its gross domestic product grew just 3% in 2022, the worst in nearly half a century. The zero-Covid policy that was lifted in December sparked rare protests against China's leader, Xi Jinping.