China extends visa-free entry to more countries

China has extended its visa-free entry privileges to encompass four more European countries. 

Building upon the earlier inclusion of seven European nations and Malaysia in December and January, China has now added Austria, Belgium, Hungary, and Luxembourg to the list. 

This strategic decision is aimed at boost business and tourism by attracting a greater number of international travellers to discover the country.

Citizens from these newly added European countries, along with those from France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Switzerland, will now be permitted to enter China without the need for a visa. 

The initiative, announced in November, is part of China's efforts to facilitate high-quality development in exchanges between Chinese and foreign individuals and enhance openness to the global community, as stated by Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning during a briefing.

Under the trial program, visa-free entry will be granted for up to 15 days and will remain in effect for one year. Despite the lifting of strict pandemic measures and quarantine requirements for arrivals early last year, international travel to China has not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels.

Before the pandemic, China permitted visa-free entry for citizens of Brunei, Japan, and Singapore, but this was suspended after the COVID-19 outbreak. 

While visa-free entry was reinstated for Brunei and Singapore in July, it has not been extended to Japan.

In 2023, China recorded 35.5 million entries and exits by foreigners, a significant decline from the 97.7 million recorded in 2019.

China has been actively seeking foreign investment to stimulate its economy, attracting business people for trade fairs and meetings. 

Despite this, the number of foreign tourists remains notably lower compared to the pre-pandemic period.

Last year witnessed a surge in interest among Europeans in China as a tourist destination. Reports add that there has been a 663% increase in overall bookings from Europe to China compared to 2022, with the United Kingdom and Germany ranking among the top 10 sources of inbound travelers globally.