China’s visa-free scheme is rapidly expanding in an effort to boost tourism and promote exchanges between Chinese citizens and foreign nationals. The latest additions to the list include citizens of Andorra, Finland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco and Slovakia, who will be able to enter China without a visa from November 8, 2024, until December 31, 2025. This comes after other European countries, such as Norway, Cyprus, Denmark, Greece, Portugal, and Slovenia, were added to the visa-free list in previous months. In total, 24 European countries now have visa-free access to China. Additionally, tourists from Poland, Australia, and New Zealand were also granted unrestricted entry until the end of 2025.
The aim of the visa-free scheme is to encourage more people to visit China for business and tourism, as well as facilitate high-quality development of Chinese and foreign personnel exchanges. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning stated that the goal is to promote high-level opening up to the outside world. Visa-free entry for European countries will be granted for up to 15 days in the trial programme, allowing tourists to visit China for short stays without the hassle of obtaining a visa. The ultimate objective is to increase international travel to China and attract more tourists from around the world.
China’s strict pandemic measures, including required quarantines for all arrivals, greatly impacted international travel to the country for nearly three years. While restrictions were lifted early last year, international travel has yet to bounce back to pre-pandemic levels. Entry without a visa was initially suspended for citizens of Brunei, Japan, and Singapore due to the COVID-19 outbreak, but visa-free entry was reinstated for Brunei and Singapore in July. However, entry without a visa has not been reinstated for citizens of Japan. In 2023, China recorded 35.5 million entries and exits by foreigners, a significant decrease compared to 97.7 million in 2019, the last year before the pandemic.
Last year saw a surge in interest in China as a tourist destination among Europeans, with a significant increase in overall bookings to China compared to previous years. The United Kingdom and Germany were among the top sources of inbound travelers to China globally. Shanghai remains the most popular destination among Europeans, followed by Beijing, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen. Emerging destinations include Sanya, a beachside city on Hainan Island, and Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province. In addition to visa-free schemes, China is encouraging inbound tourism by promoting cultural and historical attractions in partnership with Trip.com, and investing in technology, travel guides, and e-payment systems to enhance the tourism infrastructure.
The expansion of visa-free access to China is part of the government’s efforts to boost its economy by attracting foreign investment and increasing international travel. Some business leaders, including Elon Musk and Tim Cook, have been visiting China for trade fairs and meetings, but foreign tourists are still a rare sight compared to before the pandemic. The visa-free scheme is expected to make travel to China more convenient for Europeans and promote cultural exchanges between China and other countries. With the easing of pandemic restrictions and the introduction of visa waivers, China hopes to attract more visitors and revitalize its tourism industry in the coming years.
