China’s visa-free scheme is rapidly expanding in an effort to boost tourism, with five more European countries being added to the list. Citizens of Andorra, Finland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, and Slovakia will now be able to enter China visa-free from 8 November 2024 until 31 December 2025. This follows the addition of Norway in September and Cyprus, Denmark, Greece, Portugal, and Slovenia in October. The total number of European countries granted visa-free access now stands at 24. In addition, tourists from Poland, Australia, and New Zealand have also been granted unrestricted entry to China until the end of 2025. The visa-free access aims to encourage more people to visit China for business and tourism and promote exchanges between Chinese citizens and foreign nationals.
The aim of the visa-free access for European countries is to facilitate high-quality development of Chinese and foreign personnel exchanges and high-level opening up to the outside world. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said that the visa-free entry will be granted for up to 15 days in the trial program. China’s strict pandemic measures, including required quarantines for all arrivals, had discouraged many people from visiting for nearly three years. While the restrictions were lifted early last year, international travel to China has not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels. China had previously allowed citizens of Brunei, Japan, and Singapore to enter without a visa but suspended this after the COVID-19 outbreak. It resumed visa-free entry for Brunei and Singapore in July but has not done so for Japan. In 2023, China recorded 35.5 million entries and exits by foreigners, significantly lower than the 97.7 million recorded in 2019.
Last year saw a surge in interest in China as a tourist destination among Europeans, with a 663 percent increase in overall bookings from Europe to China compared to 2022. The United Kingdom and Germany were among the top 10 sources of inbound travelers to China globally. Shanghai remains the most popular destination among Europeans, followed by Beijing, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen. Sanya, a beachside city on the southern end of China’s Hainan Island, and Chengdu, the capital of southwestern China’s Sichuan province, are emerging destinations. In addition to the new visa-free schemes, China is further encouraging inbound tourism by promoting cultural and historical attractions in partnership with Trip.com. The country is also investing in technology, travel guides, and e-payment systems to enhance tourism infrastructure.
The visa-free access for European countries is scheduled to last until the end of 2025, allowing tourists from the listed countries to enter China for short stays without a visa. The expansion of the visa-free scheme aims to promote tourism and business exchanges between China and foreign countries. With the addition of more European nations to the list, China hopes to attract more visitors and boost its economy through increased tourism. The visa-free access follows a phased announcement of the scheme throughout 2024, with various European countries and Malaysia also gaining visa-free entry to China. The initiative is part of China’s efforts to facilitate high-quality development of Chinese and foreign personnel exchanges and promote a high-level opening to the outside world.
International travel to China is slowly bouncing back after the strict pandemic measures that discouraged many people from visiting for nearly three years. While the restrictions were lifted early last year, international travel to China has not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels. China is seeking foreign investment to boost its economy, and some businesspeople have been coming for trade fairs and meetings. However, foreign tourists are still a rare sight compared to before the pandemic. In 2023, China recorded 35.5 million entries and exits by foreigners, significantly lower than the 97.7 million recorded in 2019. The government’s efforts to attract foreign investment and promote tourism are aimed at revitalizing the economy and increasing international exchanges with other countries.
