Its white sandy beaches and tropical climate have earned it the nickname “Chinese Hawaii”. But, since Sunday, August 7, the paradise stay for tourists on the island of Hainan, in southern China, has turned into hell. After the detection of a thousand cases of Covid-19 on the territory, the authorities decided to cancel all flights from the Chinese island.
More than 80,000 tourists are stranded and cannot return to their country. Among them, several dozen French people, like this expatriate who came to visit the island with his family: “I arrived two weeks ago and suddenly everything closed. I live in Beijing but we are not allowed to leave. There are no more planes, I don’t know what the ‘we’ll do. I’m locked in my hotel but I have no information.”
Tourists stranded in train stations and airports
China is the only major country that continues to apply a zero Covid strategy: the country imposes confinements and long quarantines which penalize local tourism. Bars, restaurants, public transport… On the island of Hainan, in the south of the country, everything is closed. Hundreds of tourists even found themselves stranded at airports and train stations. They sometimes sleep there on the floor. The Chinese government has promised 50% discounts at some hotels to accommodate unhappy tourists. Without indicating how long they will have to stay like this, prisoners in their vacation spot.
