China has extended its visa-free travel scheme to Polish citizens, as well as to Australia and New Zealand, until the end of 2025. This initiative is part of China’s efforts to boost tourism and promote exchanges between Chinese citizens and foreign nationals. Other European countries, such as Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, and Spain, have also been included in the scheme. The aim is to facilitate high-quality development of Chinese and foreign personnel exchanges as well as opening up the country to the outside world. Visa-free entry will be granted for up to 15 days in this trial programme. Despite the strict pandemic measures implemented by China in response to COVID-19, international travel to the country has not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels.
China has seen a significant increase in interest from European tourists, with a 663 per cent increase in bookings from Europe to China compared to 2022. Data from online travel agency Trip.com also shows that the United Kingdom and Germany are among the top 10 sources of inbound travellers to China globally. Shanghai remains the most popular destination among Europeans, followed by Beijing, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen. Emerging destinations such as Sanya, a beachside city on Hainan Island, and Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province, are also gaining popularity. China is further promoting inbound tourism by enhancing cultural and historical attractions and investing in technology, travel guides, and e-payment systems.
The Chinese government has been seeking foreign investment to stimulate its sluggish economy, attracting businesspeople for trade fairs and meetings. However, despite resuming visa-free entry for countries like Brunei and Singapore, the number of foreign tourists visiting China has not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels. In 2023, China recorded 35.5 million entries and exits by foreigners, significantly lower than the 97.7 million recorded in 2019. This indicates that international travel to China has not fully rebounded following the lifting of pandemic restrictions.
China has also expanded its visa-free travel scheme to include other European countries such as Austria, Italy, and Switzerland, in addition to Poland. The aim is to encourage more people to visit China for both business and tourism, thereby promoting cultural exchanges. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning stated that the goal is to facilitate high-quality development of Chinese and foreign personnel exchanges and further open up the country to the outside world. With visa-free entry granted for up to 15 days, this trial programme aims to attract more visitors to China.
In addition to simplifying travel for European tourists through visa-free entry, China is further promoting inbound tourism by investing in technology, travel guides, and e-payment systems. The country is also enhancing its tourism infrastructure by partnering with online travel agencies like Trip.com to promote cultural and historical attractions. Shanghai, Beijing, and Guangzhou remain popular destinations among European tourists, with emerging destinations such as Sanya and Chengdu also gaining traction. Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, China is actively working to attract more international visitors and revitalize its tourism industry.