Coronavirus outbreak in Fujian poses fresh threat to China’s troubled travel market

A rapidly expanding outbreak of the Delta variant in China’s southeastern province of Fujian is posing a new threat to recovery of the local tourism industry, with fresh lockdowns set to torpedo upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival travel and holiday plans.

Covid-19 infections have grown to at least 213, including asymptomatic cases, in a week since the outbreak was detected, prompting a ban on interprovincial group tours to and from Fujian. In the coastal city of Xiamen, which is home to several popular attractions, tourism has ground to a halt following a lockdown and some highway closures.