Tourists Flood Into China on Expanding Visa-Free Scheme

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A group of foreign tourists are visiting the Bell and Drum Tower in Beijing on May 17, 2024. Photo: VCG

China saw a surge in inbound travel in the first half of this year, official data showed, as the country ramps up efforts to revive tourism, including expanding its visa-free scheme.

Trips by foreigners to China jumped 152.7% year-on-year to 14.64 million, Lin Yongsheng, an official with the National Immigration Administration, said at a news conference Friday. Among them, 8.54 million trips were made visa-free, up 190.1%.

China has been encouraging more foreigners to enter the country since reopening after the pandemic, including waiving visa requirements for citizens from 22 countries and making local digital payment services more international-user friendly.

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China experienced a 152.7% increase in inbound travel to 14.64 million trips in the first half of the year, with 8.54 million visa-free trips.
To boost tourism post-pandemic, China expanded visa-free entry, including new trials with New Zealand, Australia, and Poland.
Enhanced international user-friendly digital payment services and extended visa waiver policies contributed to the surge in foreign tourists.

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What Happened When

November 2023：: China added Norwegian citizens to a visa-free scheme allowing a 72- or 144-hour stay in some Chinese cities while in transit.

May 2024：: China decided to extend its visa waiver policy for travelers from Malaysia and 11 European countries for another year until the end of 2025.

June 25, 2024：: China announced a trial allowing ordinary passport holders from New Zealand, Australia, and Poland to enter the country visa-free for up to 15 days.

July 5, 2024：: Lin Yongsheng, an official with the National Immigration Administration, reported a 152.7% year-on-year increase in trips by foreigners to China, with 14.64 million trips in the first half of 2024.

AI generated, for reference only