China's visa-free travel sparks a surge in tourism

As China moves forward with an unprecedented expansion of its unilateral visa-free policy, some Western media have rushed to downplay the significance of this effort for greater global openness.

In a recent report, Bloomberg called the visa-free policy a bid "falling flat" and "well short of the near full recovery Beijing would have been hoping for." However, a closer look at China's latest efforts to advance its opening-up strategy reveals a different picture.

For more than a year, Beijing has expanded the policy to 38 countries, accommodating more entry purposes and extending the permitted stay to 30 days. And far from falling short, the unilateral visa-free policy has proven successful and stands as a key testament to China's determination to further integrate itself into the global economy.

"China Travel" becomes new trend

Data from China's National Immigration Administration (NIA) showed that cross-border trips made by foreigners surged 82.9 percent from a year ago to 64.88 million in 2024. More than 20 million inbound foreign trips were made visa-free, a year-on-year increase of 112.3 percent.

China's comprehensive relaxation of visa requirements effectively pulled tourists to China last year, said Li Jun, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation under the Ministry of Commerce.

China's visa exemption policy started in December 2023, when it started piloting its unilateral visa-free policy for France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Malaysia. Now, it allows ordinary passport holders from 38 countries to visit the country for up to 30 days without a visa.

Fueled by the upgraded visa-free policy, "China Travel" went viral online, a trending social media hashtag with over 1 billion views as travelers shared their experiences in China. A growing number of international tourists are being drawn to the country's cultural landmarks, natural scenery and city tours.

Eva Gajewska, a project manager at CT Poland travel agency, said her office has seen a surge in inquiries since China announced the extension of its visa-free policy to Poland last June.

"Many new clients were drawn by the visa-free offer, which made planning their trips much easier," she told Xinhua, adding that their China tour packages have already been booked through April.

During the past Spring Festival holiday, China welcomed more than 3.43 million inbound tourists from 175 countries and regions. Meanwhile, estimates by Chinese online travel agency Ctrip showed that the volume of travel bookings from foreign tourists to China grew by 203 percent compared to the same period during last year's Chinese New Year.

Over 80 percent of people didn't leave China until the visa deadline was imminent, said Mao Xu, a senior NIA official.

Meanwhile, following the introduction of the new visa policy, many tourists have transitioned from first-time visitors to regular revisitors, broadening their travels from major cities such as Beijing and Shanghai to more off-the-beaten-path destinations.

"Waking up in a sleeper car and taking in the stunning views of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau was unforgettable," said Belgian tourists Patrick, Luc and Ingrid, reflecting on their journey aboard the tourism train in China's Xizang autonomous region.

"The more we explore China, the more we're captivated by its allure," they added. "Once you've been, you're eager to come back. We're excited to discover more and deepen our understanding of Chinese culture."