Increase in visa-free travelers from Southeast Asia fueling the growth in China
China Opens Doors Wider to Foreign Visitors
China is making strides in attracting more foreign visitors, as the country eases travel restrictions and strengthens ties with neighbouring nations.
In a significant move, Vietnam has overtaken Thailand as the top travel destination for Chinese tourists. This shift comes as Indonesia and Japan are expected to become significant sources for visa-free arrivals in China in the near future, due to their growing economic and demographic importance in Asia.
The number of entries by people from ASEAN countries accounted for the overwhelming majority of visa-free entries. To further bolster these ties, a reciprocal visa-free agreement with Malaysia came into effect on July 17. Since then, Malaysian passport holders have made 180,000 trips to China, with 150,000 trips being visa-free.
The NIA (National Immigration Administration) has reported a surge in international arrivals, with foreign nationals making 15.89 million visa-free entries into China from January to August. More than 9 million trips to China were made by ASEAN nationals under visa-free arrangements.
To accommodate this increase, the NIA has streamlined entry procedures and deployed enough border inspection personnel to maintain efficient port clearance. On the first day of the new visa policy, 890 Russian travellers entered China visa-free through Heilongjiang province. This number was double the number of Russian travellers the previous day.
Russians have been able to stay in China for up to 30 days without a visa since Monday. Previously, Russian citizens were permitted to stay in mainland China for up to 10 days visa-free when transiting to a third country. However, the NIA did not provide specific figures for visa-free entries by Russians since the new policy was implemented.
This new policy allows Russians more time to explore China, which is part of China's broader push to attract foreign visitors. The NIA attributes the growth in port entries and exits to China's continuous expansion of opening-up. The administration is encouraging international travel and deepening global ties after years of strict pandemic controls reduced arrivals and departures.
The NIA inspected 460 million inbound and outbound travellers from January to August, a 14.9% increase compared to the same period last year. Visa-free entries made up approximately two-thirds of international arrivals to China.
As China continues to open its doors to the world, it is poised to become an even more vibrant destination for tourists and travellers from around the globe.
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