Visa-free travel to China has skyrocketed, with 20.1 million international visitors enjoying this benefit in 2024, a 112.3% increase from the previous year. The National Immigration Administration (NIA) attributes this growth to relaxed travel policies and new initiatives aimed at revitalizing the post-Covid economy. China has extended visa-free entry to 38 countries and introduced a 10-day transit policy for 54 nations. These measures aim to attract tourists and investors, enhancing China's global appeal and tourism sector.
Recent data indicates a remarkable increase in visa-free travel to China, more than doubling from the previous year. This encouraging trend is part of Beijing's commitment to further simplify travel regulations for foreign tourists.
In 2024, approximately 20.1 million international visitors enjoyed the benefits of visa-free entry, marking an impressive 112.3% rise compared to 2023, as reported by the National Immigration Administration (NIA) on Tuesday. “Over the past year … the number of foreigners coming to China has increased significantly,” noted NIA spokeswoman Lu Ning.
This surge follows a series of travel policy relaxations, including short-term visa-free transits and unilateral entry schemes for numerous countries. The NIA's announcement coincided with the State Council's recent plan to enhance inbound travel policies as part of an 18-point strategy aimed at boosting consumption and revitalizing the economy in the post-Covid era.
The State Council stated, “[We will] expand the scope of unilateral visa exemptions in an orderly manner and appropriately extend the duration of visa-free stays,” reflecting a proactive approach to welcoming more visitors. Out of 610 million trips recorded in 2024, around 65 million were made by international tourists, showcasing an 83% increase.
While these figures are encouraging, they have not yet returned to the pre-pandemic levels of 2019, when total trips reached 670 million, with nearly 98 million being foreign travelers. Lu emphasized that the NIA aims to “release the dividends of the visa-free policy” to further facilitate international travel and cultural exchanges.
Since reopening its borders to international visitors in January 2023 after a three-year hiatus due to the pandemic, China has progressively relaxed entry requirements and expanded visa waiver programs for a growing number of countries. The country seeks to attract foreign tourists and investors to invigorate its economy while improving its global image, which was affected by stringent zero-Covid measures and anti-espionage policies.
As of now, visa-free entry has been extended to 38 countries, alongside mutual visa exemption agreements with 26 nations, according to the NIA. Observers believe that these unilateral measures could be crucial in navigating potential challenges posed by the incoming U.S. administration, with political scientist Zheng Yongnian highlighting the importance of openness in U.S.-China relations.
In a significant move to enhance its appeal to foreign visitors, China recently introduced a policy allowing nationals from 54 countries to enjoy 10-day visa-free transit starting December 17. This new policy improves upon the previous three- to six-day visa-free stays offered to the same nations since November 2023.
Nationals from countries such as the United States, Australia, and Japan can now stay up to 240 hours in designated areas of mainland China while transiting through one of its 60 international ports. Since the extension of this provision, the number of foreign visitors utilizing visa-free transits has surged by 29.5% month on month, according to NIA data. Moreover, total visa-free transits for 2024 have also more than doubled, increasing by 113.5% from the previous year.
With these progressive steps, China is poised to welcome a growing number of international visitors, further enriching its tourism landscape and fostering global connections.
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