mk 2024. In the first half of the year, 14.635 million foreigners entered the country through various ports, an increase of 152.7 percent year-on-year, data from the National Immigration Administration showed. Among them, 8.542 million entered the country under visa-free policies. Photo: cnsphoto" src="https://www.globaltimes.cn/Portals/0/attachment/2024/2024-07-08/d984e924-313c-4390-922d-2d329e757eca.jpeg" />

Groups of foreign tourists walk outside Beijing's Palace Museum on July 9, 2024. In the first half of the year, 14.635 million foreigners entered the country through various ports, an increase of 152.7 percent year-on-year, data from the National Immigration Administration showed. Among them, 8.542 million entered the country under visa-free policies. Photo: cnsphoto

China welcomes foreign friends to add China to their travel bucket list, and experience China's time-honored history by visiting heritage sites such as the Great Wall, feast their eyes on natural wonders such as the glinting West Lake, discover application of cutting-edge technologies, and feel the spirit of humanity embodied in winter dining delights, Lin Jian, spokesperson from China's Foreign Ministry told a press conference on Tuesday, following the latest visa-free policy update released by China's National Immigration Administration (NIA) on Tuesday morning.

China announced on Tuesday a significant relaxation of its visa-free transit policy, extending the permitted stay for eligible foreign travelers from the original 72 and 144 hours to 240 hours, or 10 days, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

Effective immediately, 21 additional ports have been designated for visa-free entry and exit, and the areas in which transit travelers can stay have been expanded, according to a statement from the National Immigration Administration (NIA), Xinhua reported.

Under the updated policy, eligible citizens from 54 countries, including Russia, Brazil, Britain, the US and Canada, can enter China visa-free when transiting to a third country or region.

These travelers may now enter through any of the 60 ports across 24 provinces, regions and municipalities and stay within the designated areas for up to 240 hours.

During their stay, transit visa-free travelers may engage in tourism, business, visiting, family visits, and other activities, while activities such as work, study, and news reporting that require prior approval should be carried out with the necessary visas in advance, the NIA said.

Positive responses

The news regarding the visa-free policy update has garnered immediate attention on Tuesday from foreign business communities in China, with several senior representatives of business communities from countries eligible for the visa-free policies expressing their support for the measures in an interview with the Global Times on Tuesday right after the policy was announced.

Soyi Park, assistant manager of the Korea International Trade Association, told the Global Times on Tuesday that from the perspective of foreigners, "it's great news to hear that China is applying a more favorable policy regarding visa-free entry."

"China is an essential country in the global trade environment, and if China applies a more relaxed visa policy, more people, whether for business or travel, will prioritize China," Park noted, expressing her expectations for such policy to either be extended or maintained for a longer period in the future.

Vaughn Barber, China-Australia Chamber of Commerce (AustCham China) chair, told the Global Times on Tuesday that "the extension of China's visa-free transit policy is a welcome and practical development."

"It [the policy update] not only facilitates short-term visits for business - such as meetings, site inspections, and relationship-building - but also opens the door for more Australians to come and experience China for themselves," Barber said.

This opportunity to see the reality of life in China, as the saying goes "Bai Wen Bu Ru Yi Jian" (seeing is believing), will help foster greater understanding, encourage people-to-people connections, and strengthen the ties that underpin both tourism and business engagement between our two countries, the AustCham China chair further noted.

Lorenzo Riccardi, chairman of the China-Italy Chamber of Commerce, told the Global Times on Tuesday that this new policy is a positive development that simplifies travel for foreign nationals.

"This change is particularly beneficial as it reduces the need for a visa for shorter visits, making China more accessible and attractive for international visitors and as a hub for travelling in the Asia-Pacific region," Riccardi said.

Oliver Oehms, executive director and board member of the German Chamber of Commerce in China (North China), told the Global Times on Tuesday that "we appreciate any effort to make travels for business people and tourists easier. As Germans can currently enter visa-free for 30 days already, the situation is very accommodating."

The updated visa-free policy has also been reflected on some international ticket-booking platforms. For example, on the Chinese travel ticketing platform ly.com, within an hour after the news was announced, overseas tourists' searches for domestic hotels and inbound air tickets increased by 87 percent compared with the same period the day before. The New Year's Day holiday is highly attractive to foreign tourists. The popularity of hotel bookings by overseas tourists for stays before and after the New Year's Day on January 1 has increased more than five times compared with the same period the day before, ly.com shows.

The new visa-free policy reflects China's continued commitment to high-level opening-up, boosting confidence among foreign businesses and encouraging investment, Yang Jinsong, an expert with the China Tourism Academy, told the Global Times on Tuesday. He also noted that the policy will stimulate inbound tourism, drive the internationalization of local areas, and promote economic development.

Under spotlight

The visa policy updates have also appeared on the headlines of some world major foreign media outlets on Tuesday.

CNN reported that "China has made no secret of its desire to increase the number of international visitors and has made several major policy changes since reopening following the Covid-19 pandemic," while admitting that such measures "appears to be working," citing data from the NIA.

Reuters also acknowledged China's efforts in "waiving visa requirements for travellers to encourage visitation to the country," since the lifting of pandemic restriction.

Another response was from NBC News, which said in a report on Tuesday that "Visa waivers for transit passengers are popular among travelers, including Americans, who might otherwise be required to go through a tedious visa process for travel to China or elsewhere."

China's visa-free policy has seen conspicuous effect as official and industry data shows.

China recorded nearly 29.22 million inbound foreign visits between January and November 2024, up 86.2 percent year on year. Of these, 17.45 million entered the country visa-free, marking a significant 123.3 percent year-on-year growth, according to Xinhua.

On Chinese online travel agency Qunar, the booking volume of passengers using non-Chinese passports to book air tickets between domestic routes this year has nearly tripled compared to the same period in 2023, and more than 10 percent of foreign tourists have come for the second time, the company said in a statement shared with the Global Times on Tuesday.

These policies not only reflect China's ongoing efforts toward further opening-up, but also show that the visa exemption and facilitation measures are having a positive impact, as they are welcomed by the international community, Huo Jianguo, vice chairman of the China Society for World Trade Organization Studies in Beijing, told the Global Times on Tuesday. He added that, regardless of how the global situation evolves, China's doors to openness will continue to widen, sharing China's opportunities with the world.