diplomatic

China Extends Visa-Free Travel to More Countries to Boost Tourism

China has extended its visa-free travel scheme to include Poland, Australia, and New Zealand, with the initiative aiming to boost tourism and international exchanges. The new visa-free policy will be in effect until the end of 2025.

Key Points:

• New Additions: Polish citizens are now eligible for visa-free entry into China starting from July 1, 2024. This follows earlier extensions to citizens of 11 other European countries and Malaysia.
• Visa-Free Access: Citizens from Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Spain, and Switzerland can also enter China without a visa until the end of next year.
• Duration: The visa-free entry allows for a stay of up to 15 days as part of a trial program aimed at promoting high-quality exchanges between Chinese and foreign nationals.

Objective:

The initiative is part of China’s broader strategy to attract more international visitors for both business and tourism, fostering cultural and economic exchanges. According to Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning, the goal is to facilitate the “high-quality development of Chinese and foreign personnel exchanges and high-level opening up to the outside world.”

Impact of Pandemic:

• Previous Restrictions: China’s strict pandemic measures, which included mandatory quarantines for all arrivals, severely restricted international travel for nearly three years. These restrictions were lifted early last year, but international travel has not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels.
• Historical Context: Before the pandemic, China allowed visa-free entry for citizens of Brunei, Japan, and Singapore, but this was suspended during the COVID-19 outbreak. Visa-free entry for Brunei and Singapore resumed in July, but Japan remains excluded.

Tourism Data:

• Pre-Pandemic vs. Now: In 2023, China recorded 35.5 million entries and exits by foreigners, compared to 97.7 million in 2019. The drop in international visitors highlights the lingering impact of the pandemic on global travel.
• Interest in China: Data from Trip.com showed a significant increase in interest in China as a tourist destination among Europeans, with a 663% rise in overall bookings from Europe to China in 2023 compared to 2022. There was also a nearly 29% increase in bookings compared to 2019.

Popular Destinations:

• Top Cities: Shanghai remains the most popular destination for European visitors, followed by Beijing, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen. Emerging destinations include Sanya, a beachside city on Hainan Island, and Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province.

Additional Measures:

China is further encouraging inbound tourism by promoting cultural and historical attractions in partnership with Trip.com. The country is also investing in tourism infrastructure, including technology enhancements, travel guides, and e-payment systems, to improve the travel experience for international visitors.

Sources: Euronews