Huzhou New Int'l Travel Co Ltd in Huzhou, East China's Zhejiang province. [Photo/hz66.com]

Huzhou's outbound tourism is expected to rebound strongly this year after the nation eased its COVID-19 control and entry policies in early January, according to industry insiders.

The Ministry of Culture and Tourism announced before the Spring Festival holiday that travel agencies could resume operating group tours to 20 overseas destinations, including Thailand, Singapore, Egypt, and New Zealand from Feb 6.

In the wake of the announcement, many residents from Huzhou are considering overseas trips, with the summer vacation expected to be the prime time with destinations featuring tropical landscapes and friendly entry policies preferred.

Consultation for outbound trips received by Huzhou New Int'l Travel Co Ltd surged dramatically in recent days, with visa-free Southeast Asian countries like the Maldives, Thailand, and Cambodia being the most popular choices.

The agency's business volume related to the application of tourist visas to countries like Singapore, Malaysia, and some European countries have recovered to 30 to 40 percent of its level in 2019 before the COVID-19 epidemic.

In response to the mounting enthusiasm for traveling, Huzhou travel agencies have rolled out more than 40 outbound tourism products. They are primarily trips to Phuket and Bali for small group of tourists considering there are still few international flights available. More large-scale group tours will be organized with the increasing number of international flights resuming in the future.