China's Visa Exemption Boosts Inbound Tourism to China... Increased Visitors

After China decided to allow visa-free entry for certain countries, summer tourism demand has surged.

On the 25th, China's state-run Global Times (GT) reported that tourism bookings to China from Australia, New Zealand, and Poland, where the visa exemption policy will be implemented starting next month, have surged. Earlier, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that from the 1st of next month, nationals holding ordinary passports from the relevant countries can enter China visa-free for business, tourism, visiting relatives, or transit purposes and stay for up to 15 days.

[Image source=AFP Yonhap News]

According to Ctrip, a Chinese online travel booking platform, summer travel bookings to China from the three countries increased by 40% compared to the previous year. Top travel destinations include Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou in Guangdong Province in southern China, and Chengdu in Sichuan Province in the southwest. Ctrip stated, "After the visa exemption policy was implemented, travel to China from the three countries is expected to increase further," adding, "Bookings are already showing a significant upward trend."

So far this year, travel bookings from Australia to China have increased by 155% compared to the same period last year, and bookings from New Zealand have risen by 60%. Previously, flights between China and Australia surged by 220% compared to the same period last year, and flights between China and Poland have recovered to about 70% of pre-pandemic levels.

China is expanding its pilot visa exemption programs to more countries, including France, Switzerland, and Malaysia, to promote cross-border travel and attract foreign visitors. South Korea is not yet included in the visa exemption list.

According to data from the Chinese National Immigration Administration, the number of entry and exit inspections conducted by Chinese immigration authorities in the first quarter of this year reached 141 million, an increase of 117.8% compared to the same period last year. Among these, the number of entries and exits by foreigners exceeded 13 million, a 305.2% increase compared to the previous year.