China’s visa-free scheme has been rapidly expanding in an effort to boost tourism and increase exchanges between Chinese citizens and foreign nationals. Recently, four more European countries – Cyprus, Denmark, Greece, and Slovenia – have been added to the list, bringing the total number of European countries with visa waivers to 17. In addition, tourists from Poland, Australia, and New Zealand were also granted unrestricted entry until the end of 2025. The aim of the scheme is to encourage more people to visit China for both business and tourism purposes. The full list of European countries now eligible for visa-free access includes countries such as Austria, France, Germany, and Spain, among others.
Despite China lifting its pandemic restrictions early last year, international travel to the country has not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels. China previously allowed citizens of Brunei, Japan, and Singapore to enter without a visa, but this was suspended during the COVID-19 outbreak. Although visa-free entry has since resumed for Brunei and Singapore, it has not been reinstated for Japan. In 2023, China recorded 35.5 million entries and exits by foreigners, significantly lower than the 97.7 million recorded in 2019. The government has been actively seeking foreign investment to stimulate the economy, with some businesspeople attending trade fairs and meetings in the country. However, foreign tourists remain scarce compared to before the pandemic.
In addition to expanding its visa-free scheme, China has been simplifying travel for Europeans in various ways. Data from Trip.com shows a significant increase in bookings from Europe to China compared to previous years. The United Kingdom and Germany are among the top sources of inbound travelers to China globally, with Shanghai being the most popular destination among Europeans. Beyond Shanghai, cities such as Beijing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Sanya, and Chengdu are also emerging as popular destinations for European tourists. China is further promoting inbound tourism by enhancing cultural attractions, historical sites, and investing in infrastructure such as technology, travel guides, and e-payment systems.
China’s visa-free scheme aims to facilitate high-quality development of exchanges between Chinese and foreign nationals and promote high-level opening up to the outside world. The scheme, which was announced in stages starting in 2024, allows tourists from various European countries to enter China for short stays without a visa until the end of next year. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning highlighted the goal of the program as encouraging more people to visit China for both tourism and business purposes. The introduction of the visa-free access is part of China’s effort to boost tourism and stimulate economic growth through increased foreign investment and exchanges.
Although international travel to China has yet to fully recover to pre-pandemic levels, there has been an increase in interest in China as a tourist destination among Europeans. Trip.com data shows a substantial rise in bookings to China from Europe compared to previous years. Cities like Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Sanya, and Chengdu are among the top destinations for European tourists. China’s investment in technology, travel guides, and e-payment systems, as well as its promotion of cultural attractions and historical sites, are all aimed at further enhancing inbound tourism. The country’s efforts to simplify travel for Europeans are part of a broader strategy to attract more visitors and boost its tourism industry.
