NewsFinale
  • Home
  • News
  • Local News
  • Business
  • Health
  • Finance
  • Celeb Lifestyle
  • Crime
  • Entertainment
  • Advertise Here
Gleammour AquaFresh
NewsFinale
  • Home
  • News
  • Local News
  • Business
  • Health
  • Finance
  • Celeb Lifestyle
  • Crime
  • Entertainment
  • Advertise Here
Home Local News Expansion of China’s visa-free entry to over 70 countries aimed at attracting tourists

Expansion of China’s visa-free entry to over 70 countries aimed at attracting tourists

China extends visa-free entry to more than 70 countries to draw tourists
Up next
‘Superman’ LA premiere: Nicholas Hoult, Rachel Brosnahan, David Corenswet, James Gunn and more
Star-Studded ‘Superman’ Premiere in Los Angeles Featuring Nicholas Hoult, Rachel Brosnahan, David Corenswet, James Gunn, and Others
Published on 08 July 2025
Author
NewsFinale Journal
Share and Follow
FacebookXRedditPinterestWhatsApp


WASHINGTON – Foreign tourists are trickling back to China after the country loosened its visa policy to unprecedented levels. Citizens from 74 countries can now enter China for up to 30 days without a visa, a big jump from previous regulations.

The government has been steadily expanding visa-free entry in a bid to boost tourism, the economy and its soft power. More than 20 million foreign visitors entered without a visa in 2024 — almost one-third of the total and more than double from the previous year, according to the National Immigration Administration.

“This really helps people to travel because it is such a hassle to apply for a visa and go through the process,” Georgi Shavadze, a Georgian living in Austria, said on a recent visit to the Temple of Heaven in Beijing.

While most tourist sites are still packed with far more domestic tourists than foreigners, travel companies and tour guides are now bracing for a bigger influx in anticipation of summer holiday goers coming to China.

“I’m practically overwhelmed with tours and struggling to keep up” says Gao Jun, a veteran English-speaking tour guide with over 20 years of experience. To meet growing demand, he launched a new business to train anyone interested in becoming an English-speaking tour guide. “I just can’t handle them all on my own” he said.

After lifting tough COVID-19 restrictions, China reopened its borders to tourists in early 2023, but only 13.8 million people visited in that year, less than half the 31.9 million in 2019, the last year before the pandemic.

30 days for many in Europe, Asia, Latin America and the Mideast

In December 2023, China announced visa-free entry for citizens of France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Malaysia. Almost all of Europe has been added since then. Travelers from five Latin American countries and Uzbekistan became eligible last month, followed by four in the Middle East. The total will grow to 75 on July 16 with the addition of Azerbaijan.

About two-thirds of the countries have been granted visa-free entry on a one-year trial basis.

For Norwegian traveler Øystein Sporsheim, this means his family would no longer need to make two round-trip visits to the Chinese embassy in Oslo to apply for a tourist visa, a time-consuming and costly process with two children in tow. “They don’t very often open, so it was much harder” he said.

“The new visa policies are 100% beneficial to us,” said Jenny Zhao, a managing director of WildChina, which specializes in boutique and luxury routes for international travelers. She said business is up 50% compared with before the pandemic.

While the U.S. remains their largest source market, accounting for around 30% of their current business, European travelers now make up 15–20% of their clients, a sharp increase from less than 5% before 2019, according to Zhao. “We’re quite optimistic” Zhao said, “we hope these benefits will continue.”

Trip.com Group, a Shanghai-based online travel agency, said the visa-free policy has significantly boosted tourism. Air, hotel and other bookings on their website for travel to China doubled in the first three months of this year compared with the same period last year, with 75% of the visitors from visa-free regions.

No major African country is eligible for visa-free entry, despite the continent’s relatively close ties with China.

North Americans and some others in transit can enter for 10 days

Those from 10 countries not in the visa-free scheme have another option: entering China for up to 10 days if they depart for a different country than the one they came from. The policy is limited to 60 ports of entry, according to the country’s National Immigration Administration.

The transit policy applies to 55 countries, but most are also on the 30-day visa-free entry list. It does offer a more restrictive option for citizens of the 10 countries that aren’t: the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Sweden, Russia, the United Kingdom, Ukraine, Indonesia, Canada, the U.S. and Mexico.

Sweden is the only high-income European country that didn’t make the 30-day list. Ties with China have frayed since the ruling Chinese Communist Party sentenced a Swedish book seller, Gui Minhai, to prison for 10 years in 2020. Gui disappeared in 2015 from his seaside home in Thailand but turned up months later in police custody in mainland China.

___

Associated Press writer Ken Moritsugu and video producer Liu Zheng in Beijing contributed to this report.

Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

Share and Follow
FacebookXRedditPinterestWhatsApp
You May Also Like
Water in Mattoon is drinkable but lake remains closed
  • Local News

Mattoon’s Water is Safe to Drink, But the Lake is Still Off-Limits

MATTOON, Ill. (WCIA) — It’s been almost three weeks since a “do…
  • NewsFinale Journal
  • July 29, 2025
'He thought he was safe’: SC family calls for change after son’s death from amoeba
  • Local News

‘Sense of Security Shattered: South Carolina Family Urges Reform Following Son’s Tragic Amoeba Death’

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WSPA) – A South Carolina family is mourning the heartbreaking…
  • NewsFinale Journal
  • July 30, 2025
Australia bans YouTube accounts for children under 16 in reversal of previous stance
  • Local News

Australia Changes Policy, Prohibits YouTube Access for Kids Under 16

MELBOURNE – The Australian government announced YouTube will be among the social…
  • NewsFinale Journal
  • July 30, 2025
Two Illini defenders make national watch list
  • Local News

Two Illinois Defenders Named on National Watch List

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) – Two more Illinois football players are in the…
  • NewsFinale Journal
  • July 29, 2025
An earthquake off Russia has set off tsunami warnings and advisories. Here's what to know
  • Local News

Tsunami Warnings Issued Following Earthquake Near Russia: Key Information to Stay Informed

HONOLULU – A powerful earthquake that struck off the coast of Russia…
  • NewsFinale Journal
  • July 30, 2025
Pilot surprises grandmother on plane for emotional reunion
  • Local News

Pilot surprises grandmother on plane for emotional reunion

ST. GEORGE, Utah (ABC4) — A surprise in the sky left passengers…
  • NewsFinale Journal
  • July 30, 2025
Jonesborough BMA approves budget with 28% property tax increase
  • Local News

Jonesborough Board Approves Budget with Significant 28% Property Tax Hike

JONESBOROUGH, Tenn. (WJHL) — The Jonesborough Board of Mayor and Aldermen approved…
  • NewsFinale Journal
  • July 30, 2025
Family of Tampa teen who collapsed on football field uses tragedy to bring awareness
  • Local News

Family of Tampa teen who collapsed on football field uses tragedy to bring awareness

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — This week’s high temperatures brought back traumatic memories…
  • NewsFinale Journal
  • July 30, 2025
Denise Richards claims estranged husband Aaron Phypers stole her private photos, violated restraining order
  • Celeb Lifestyle

Denise Richards Accuses Estranged Husband Aaron Phypers of Taking Her Private Photos and Ignoring Restraining Order

Denise Richards is claiming her estranged husband, Aaron Phypers, stole her private…
  • NewsFinale Journal
  • July 30, 2025
Sheriff responds to so-called new evidence in McNeil traffic stop case
  • US

Sheriff Addresses Alleged New Evidence in McNeil Traffic Stop Case

McNeil’s attorneys claim a new video shows an officer pointing a gun…
  • NewsFinale Journal
  • July 30, 2025
Maher: I was wrong that Trump's tariffs would 'sink the economy'
  • US

Maher Admits Error in Predicting Trump’s Tariffs Would ‘Sink the Economy’

(The Hill) Bill Maher is acknowledging that the doom and gloom predictions…
  • NewsFinale Journal
  • July 30, 2025
Senate confirms Emil Bove to appeals court despite whistleblower complaints, controversy
  • News

Senate confirms Emil Bove to appeals court despite whistleblower complaints, controversy

The Senate on Tuesday confirmed Emil Bove to the Third Circuit Court…
  • NewsFinale Journal
  • July 30, 2025
NewsFinale Journal
  • Home
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Sitemap
  • DMCA
  • Advertise Here
  • Donate