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
Owners arrested after 30+ animals removed from Carter County home
  • Local News

Owners taken into custody after over 30 animals taken out from residence in Carter County

CARTER COUNTY, Tenn. (WJHL) — Three people were arrested on Sunday and…
  • NewsFinale Journal
  • July 7, 2025
Groveland might replace all of its street lights. Here’s why
  • Local News

Reasons why Groveland could upgrade all its street lights.

GROVELAND, Fla. – The city of Groveland is considering a plan that…
  • NewsFinale Journal
  • July 7, 2025
A Vermont dairy farm was raided. The mixed messages from Washington since then have increased fears
  • Local News

“Confusion over Washington’s response to a Vermont dairy farm raid fuels anxiety”

MONTPELIER, Vt. – After six 12-hour shifts milking cows, José Molina-Aguilar’s lone…
  • NewsFinale Journal
  • July 7, 2025
Several Hillsborough residents, including 10-year-old, suffer 'devastating' fireworks injuries
  • Local News

Several Hillsborough residents, including 10-year-old, suffer 'devastating' fireworks injuries

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Several people suffered “devastating” injuries due to accidents…
  • NewsFinale Journal
  • July 8, 2025
Champaign Co. deputies issues 12 tickets, 13 warnings during 'Saturation Saturday'
  • Local News

Champaign County Sheriff Escalating Patrols to Decrease Speeding and Enhance Road Safety

CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, Ill. (WCIA) — The Champaign County Sheriff’s Office announced Monday…
  • NewsFinale Journal
  • July 7, 2025
Ayissi fuses African tradition and Parisian craft with bold flower forms at fall couture show
  • Local News

Ayissi combines African heritage and Parisian expertise with striking floral designs in autumn couture presentation

PARIS – Beneath an opulent chandelier in a sunlit salon, Imane Ayissi’s…
  • NewsFinale Journal
  • July 7, 2025
Augusta Tech, Columbia County Fire Rescue launch degree program for firefighters
  • Local News

Augusta Technical College and Columbia County Fire Rescue introduce new degree program for firefighters.

COLUMBIA COUNTY, Ga. () – Augusta Technical College and Columbia County Fire…
  • NewsFinale Journal
  • July 8, 2025
Flooding from Chantal's remnants forces dozens to flee homes in North Carolina
  • Local News

Flooding from Chantal's remnants forces dozens to flee homes in North Carolina

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — Heavy rain and flooding from the remnants…
  • NewsFinale Journal
  • July 7, 2025
Chicago mass shooting: $10K offered for information after 18 shot, 4 killed in River North outside Artis, party for Mello Buckzz
  • US

$10K reward for information on Chicago mass shooting in River North; 18 injured, 4 dead outside Artis during Mello Buckzz party

CHICAGO (WLS) — A reward is now being offered for information on…
  • NewsFinale Journal
  • July 8, 2025
The 43-year-old man has been charged with 30 offences.
  • AU

Individual Allegedly Enlisted Rideshare Drivers to Distribute Drugs at Nightclubs

A man has been accused of using unassuming rideshare drivers to transport…
  • NewsFinale Journal
  • July 8, 2025
Sam Darnold engaged to longtime girlfriend in stunning beach proposal
  • US

Sam Darnold proposes to his girlfriend of many years on the beach in a beautiful moment

Former Jets quarterback Sam Darnold will be getting his first ring in…
  • NewsFinale Journal
  • July 8, 2025
Fireworks caused Laguna Beach fire,  hundreds of posh homes evacuated
  • US

Fireworks ignited blaze in Laguna Beach, leading to evacuation of many upscale residences

A brush fire that erupted in a hilly Laguna Beach neighborhood on…
  • NewsFinale Journal
  • July 8, 2025
NewsFinale Journal
  • Home
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Sitemap
  • DMCA
  • Advertise Here
  • Donate