When will you be able to travel to China again? Business travelers are eager to travel across the Pacific to visit their colleagues, manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, and other partners, but resuming regular travel to China is still far off.
Many of our clients look forward to traveling to China, but there are some important considerations:
- You likely will not be able to get an entry visa. Mainland China requires an entry visa to enter the country. Unless you are relocating to China for a permanent position or have a critical reason to support a business in China, with current restrictions on visa issuance it is very difficult to obtain a travel visa to enter the country. Even if you hold a 10-year travel visa, it is no longer valid and you will need to reapply for a new entry visa. If you have interest in doing so, check with your partners in China about the local processed to obtain an invitation letter.
- China still imposes strict quarantine policies when entering the country. As of March 2022, travel to China is still restricted to tourists and most business travelers due to ongoing concerns about COVID-19 transmissions. Anyone that chooses to travel to China, and is able to obtain a travel visa, will be subject to strictly enforced and mandatory quarantine ranging from 14 to 21+ days. It may be difficult to justify the quarantine for a business trip or visit, but many individuals moving to China to permanent positions successfully go through the quarantine process.
- The US government still does not recommend travel to China. As of March 1, 2022 the U.S. Department of State’s guidance to US travelers seeking to travel to China states: “Reconsider travel to the People’s Republic of China (PRC) due to arbitrary enforcement of local laws and COVID-19-related travel restrictions. Do not travel to the PRC’s Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) due to COVID-19 and COVID-19-related restrictions, including the risk of parents and children being separated. Reconsider travel to the PRC’s Hong Kong SAR due to arbitrary enforcement of local laws.”
- Flights are very limited, and expensive. Flights to and from China are few, and in some cases they can cost over $5,000 one way for an economy ticket. Do a quick search online for flights and you will see the extreme limits in availability.
What you can do
So, what can you do in the meantime?
- Keep in touch virtually. Many companies haven’t visited their China partners in-person for two or more years due to the COVID-19 pandemic and travel restrictions. Make sure you are making an effort to keep in touch virtually. Email may work for placing orders, but keep a personal touch by suggesting a video call to touch base and keep a human element in your relationship. This can help in building and maintaining trust.
- Attend virtual conferences and trade shows. Many companies have in the past attended trade shows and conferences in China, such as the China Import and Export Fair (Canton Fair), China Import Expo, and also thousands of industry specific conferences that take place every year. With the onset of COVID-19, China online conferences and trade shows have become more common. Check out if the industry conferences you are interested may be available online.
- Explore networking online. One of the best parts about traveling to China in person is you can explore other channels for expanding your business. This may be meeting new potential suppliers, setting up meetings with new distributers, or attending valuable industry networking events, etc. Many Chinese companies and trade associations, such as the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai, have also bolstered their online presence, including adding more online events accessible outside of China, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Hire someone on the ground. China remains a crucial supply source for businesses and a growing market to sell into. If you do not have someone on the ground to support your business, now is a great time to take the next step. Hiring someone dedicated to your business on the ground will help you achieve the results you intended to in China by helping build trust with your partners and explore additional opportunities. ChinaVirtualAssistant can get you started quickly, without having to worry about the costs and headaches of setting up an office.