China has implemented visa exemption policies for 38 countries, making travel to China easier for millions of people.
The introduction of visa-free policies is part of a broader push to increase international tourism to China. China will continue to facilitate cross-border travel, welcoming people from all countries to visit and experience its diverse charm and share in its development dividends, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Nov. 27th.
Improved services for foreign visitors
Mao said that China has implemented visa exemption policies for 38 countries since the end of last year and now has comprehensive mutual visa exemption policies with 25 countries. It has also taken measures to make work and life more convenient and comfortable for foreigner residents in China.
Chinese cities and provinces such as Beijing, Shanghai and Guangdong have improved their mobile payment, bank card and cash services, as well as services that increase the easiness of online shopping and transportation for foreign visitors, Mao said.
She also noted that Chinese telecom operators have improved foreign services and launched new packages for foreign visitors to access 5G networks in China. Administrative authorities in various Chinese cities have also opened special, one-stop service windows through which foreigners can handle their work and residence permits more easily.
Boosting inbound tourism
Shortly after the announcement of the visa-free policy, Trip.com’s international platforms witnessed a surge of interest in Chinese cities, with searches rising by 65 percent on its European site and 112 percent on its Japanese site within 30 minutes. Interest in direct flights from various cities in Japan to China also saw a notable spike, according to the Xinhua News Agency.
In the third quarter of 2024, foreigners made more than 8 million inbound trips to China, up 48.8 percent year-on-year. Of that number, nearly 5 million trips were facilitated by the visa-free policy, up 78.6 percent year-on-year, according to data from China’s National Immigration Administration (NIA).
In the first half of 2024, inbound trips totalled 14.635 million, up 152.7 percent year-on-year. Of that figure, 8.542 million foreign entries were under the visa-free policy, up by 190.1 percent, according to NIA data.
It means foreigners made 22.821 million inbound trips to China in the first three quarters, according to calculations based on NIA data.
Written by Chen Wang, additional reporting by Xinhua and Global Times.
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