China has ramped up efforts to make it easier for foreigners to visit, yielding positive results, according to officials from the National Immigration Administration (NIA). Speaking at a press conference hosted by the State Council Information Office, Liu Haitao, a senior NIA official, reported that from January to July, there were 17.254 million foreign entries at domestic ports, a significant year-on-year increase of 129.9%. Additionally, the number of port visas issued during this period surged to 846,000, marking a 182.9% rise.
The increase has been attributed to several policy measures, such as the 144-hour visa-free transit policy, which streamlines travel for foreigners. Experts predict a further rise in the number of foreigners coming to China for tourism, education, or work as more favorable policies are introduced.
Zhang Lingyun, executive editor-in-chief of Tourism Tribune magazine, noted that the sharp increase in inbound visitors was largely due to visa facilitation measures. He added that China’s appeal as a travel destination continues to grow, thanks to its vast territory, rich natural and cultural resources, and ongoing policy support. Zhang also highlighted that China is considered a safer travel destination compared to some other countries and regions.
The substantial growth in inbound tourism reflects China’s commitment and confidence in opening up to the outside world, according to Zhang. Improvements have been made in several areas, including visa issuance, visa-free transit policies, border crossing procedures, and payment facilitation.
In recent years, the NIA has collaborated with other relevant departments to expand the range of visa-free countries and introduce measures to make it easier for foreign visitors to come to China.
Liu emphasized the success of the 144-hour visa-free transit policy, which now applies to 37 ports and 54 countries. This policy is seen as a symbol of China’s high level of openness and the advanced development of its immigration management services.
Citizens from 54 countries, including the US, Canada, and the UK, who enter China through designated entry ports with valid international travel documents and onward tickets to a third country within 144 hours, are allowed to stay in designated areas for tourism, business, or visiting relatives under this policy.
The visa-free transit policy has proven particularly effective this year, becoming a key attraction for tourists and a hallmark of China’s expanding openness, according to Liu.
The NIA has also introduced several other policies, such as 144-hour visa-free entry for foreign tour groups from Hong Kong and Macao into Guangdong Province, 144-hour visa-free entry for ASEAN country tour groups into Guilin, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, 30-day visa-free entry for nationals from 59 countries into Hainan Province, and 15-day visa-free entry for foreign tour groups arriving by cruise ships in coastal provinces.
Additionally, the policy has been extended to allow 144-hour visa-free entry for foreign tour groups from Hong Kong and Macao into Hainan, benefiting over 5.9 million foreign visitors, according to the NIA.
Further easing visa application requirements at domestic ports, the NIA now allows foreigners who need to come to China for business, visits, or other activities to apply for port visas at 100 visa offices across 73 cities, Liu said.
These combined policies have led to a rapid increase in the number of foreign visitors to China, significantly boosting the inbound tourism market.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics, foreign tourists in China spent an average of 3,459 yuan ($484.43) daily in 2023, directly contributing more than 100 billion yuan to the economy.
The surge in inbound travel is closely linked to the government’s commitment to developing the inbound tourism industry, which is still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, noted Yang Jinsong, a senior expert at the China Tourism Academy.
Yang also pointed out that the improvement in tourism and people-to-people exchanges between the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong and Macao have been key drivers. A significant portion of inbound tourists are from these special administrative regions, as the integrated development of the region continues to strengthen.
As some policy effects may take time to manifest, the impacts are expected to become more evident in the second half of the year, with experts predicting that the inbound tourism market will continue to improve and may reach new highs since the pandemic, according to Yang.
