by DIRK MULDER

Austrade September data shows Chinese enrolments are down 31 per cent on 2019 while commencements are down 44 per cent on the same period.  Things could be about to improve

In November, the Chinese Government announced changes to Covid flight bans and cut back quarantine for inbound travellers. The changes mean an end to the suspension of China-bound flights if an airline was found to carry a certain number of passengers who tested positive upon landing. Pre-departure tests by passengers are reduced from two to one, and mandatory centralised quarantine is cut from seven days to five days with an additional three at home. International travellers without a permanent address in China will still be required to do eight days of quarantine in a hotel setting.

Plus there are reports that on Monday China will turn off the phone app used to track people during the pandemic

And the Civil Aviation Administration of China indicates it will more than double international passenger flights between October and late-March, on the same period a year ago.

This is all good news. Flight arrivals are currently at around 5 per cent of what they were three years ago for point-to-point travel. According to Commonwealth Government data, in August this year, just three airlines brought in 6677 passengers from China to Australia. In August 2019 ten airlines brought in 134 901 passengers.

CMM hears the Chinese New Year is a likely time for further reform. Let us hope so!

Dirk Mulder advises education and business clients on trends in international education. He writes regularly for CMM