13 Chinese Cities
Visa-Free Entry by Cruise Ship
View of the Forbidden City from the North Gate, Shenwumen (Photo by Wikipedia)
The Chinese government has implemented a visa exemption policy for foreign cruise tourists starting from the 15th, according to the official Xinhua News Agency.
According to the National Immigration Administration of China, groups of two or more foreign tourists organized through Chinese travel agencies can enter China visa-free by boarding cruise ships through cruise ports in 13 Chinese cities, including Shanghai, Tianjin, Guangzhou, and Sanya, starting from this date. Tourists can stay up to 15 days without a visa and travel to Beijing and coastal areas near the ports of call.
The National Immigration Administration also announced that seven cruise ports?Lianyungang, Wenzhou, Zhoushan, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Beihai, and others?have been designated as visa-free transit ports for nationals of 54 countries.
The National Immigration Administration stated, "This measure will facilitate the transit and departure of foreign travelers via cruise ships at designated ports," and added that various measures will be introduced in the future to simplify cruise immigration procedures.
China’s move to exempt visas for cruise tourists comes as the number of foreign tourists has not yet recovered. According to the British BBC, during the five-day Labor Day holiday earlier this month, the number of domestic travelers in China reached 295 million, a 7.6% increase compared to the same period last year. However, the number of foreigners entering China last year was only 30% of the 2019 level.
The visa exemption for cruise tourists can be seen as part of various measures China has been promoting to attract foreign tourists. In December last year, China granted visa exemption benefits of up to 15 days to six countries: France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Malaysia. Additionally, visa exemption policies have been implemented with Singapore and Thailand.
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