China’s Foreign Ministry announced that its new visa-free travel policy has significantly eased travel for visitors, leading to a notable increase in tourist arrivals.
Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin, in a press briefing, emphasized the policy’s effectiveness and the ministry’s commitment to continually revise visa policies to enhance cross-border travel.
This statement came in response to inquiries about the impact of the recent visa exemption initiative, which includes several European countries and Malaysia.
A striking installation in the shape of five stars greeted travelers at Beijing Daxing International Airport in Beijing, as captured in a photograph by Reuters’ Tingshu Wang on April 24, 2023.
The visa-free policy, effective from December 1, has already shown positive results according to the ministry.
Immigration data indicated that about 7,000 travelers from France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Malaysia — the nations benefiting from the waiver — entered China within the first three days of the month.
Wang revealed that the daily average of tourists from these countries surged by 39% in the early days of December compared to the end of November.
The German ambassador to Beijing has expressed hopes to extend these relaxed measures to all members of the European Union (EU), reflecting a growing interest in easier access to China among European nations. This increase in tourism activity marks a significant step for China in boosting its travel sector and international relations.
Last November, China announced a temporary visa waiver for citizens of France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Malaysia, aimed at rejuvenating tourism in the aftermath of the pandemic.
