To better serve outbound tourists, the Guangzhou airport opened special check-in counters to improve efficiency. A special send-off ceremony was organized at the airport on Sunday night.

Zhao said the domestic tourists will be warmly welcomed by the destination countries and will attend welcome banquets, accept flowers and be given special gifts by local tourism officials upon arrival.

"Although outbound travel had been suspended because of the COVID-19 pandemic in the previous three years, the company never stopped its contacts, communication and exchanges with foreign counterparts, tourism departments, hotels and related organizations to discuss the resumption of business," Zhao said.

Tourist groups organized by Zhao's company will also leave for Kenya, Russia, Thailand, Singapore, Fiji and New Zealand in February, he said.