China extends visa-free entry to more than 70 countries to draw tourists
WASHINGTON (AP) – Foreign tourists return to China after they relaxed the country’s visa policy to unprecedented levels. Citizens from 74 countries can now enter China for up to 30 days without Visa, a big jump from the previous arrangements.
The government is constantly Expanding of Visa -free input To increase tourism, economy and soft power. According to the National Immigration Administration, in 2024, more than 20 million foreign visitors visas in 2024, almost one-third of the polish and more than twice the previous year.
Georgian Georgian Georgian Georgian Shavadze, a Georgian living in Austria, said in his last visit to the Temple of Paradise in Beijing, “This really helps people travel because it is very difficult to apply for visa and go through the process.” He said.
Although most touristic places are still full of more domestic tourists than foreigners, travel companies and tour guides are now prepared for a greater influx with the expectation of summer holiday regulars coming to China.
Gao Jun, an experienced English -speaking tour guide with more than 20 years of experience, says, “I practically drowning tours and fighting to continue,” he says. He has established a new business to educate anyone who wanted to be an English -speaking tour guide to meet the increasing demand. Im I can’t handle it all on my own, ”he said.
Subsequently Removing Zorlu Covid-19 restrictionsHe reopened the Chinese borders to tourists at the beginning of 2023, but only 13.8 million people visited that year, in 2019, the pandem is less than half of the previous year.
30 days for many people in Europe, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East
China announced in December 2023 France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain and Malaysian citizens for citizens without a visa. Almost all Europe has been added since then. Travelers Five Latin American Country and Uzbekistan Last month it became suitable, then four were in the Middle East. Azerbaijan will be added to 75 on July 16.
Approximately two -thirds of the countries were entered on a visa -free entry on a one -year trial basis.
For the Norwegian traveler øystein Sporsheim, this does not mean that his family will no longer need to make a two-round visit to the Chinese Embassy in Oslo to apply for a tourist visa. “They don’t open too often, so it was much more difficult,” he said.
Jenny Zhao, General Manager of Wildchina, said Jenny Zhao, who specializes in boutique and luxury routes for international travelers, said, “New visa policies are 100% useful for us.” He said that the business world increased by 50% compared to the pandemi before.
While the US continues to be the largest resource markets that make up approximately 30% of its existing businesses, European travelers now constitute 15-20% of their customers, and according to Zhao, an increase of less than 5% before 2019. Uz We are quite optimistic, Z Zhao said, “We hope that these benefits will continue,” he said.
Trip.com Group, a Shanghai -based online travel agent, said that visa -free policy significantly increased tourism. Other bookings on the websites for travel to air, hotel and China have doubled in the first three months of this year compared to the same period last year and 75% of visitors from visa -free regions.
Despite the relatively close ties of the continent with China, no large African country is suitable for visa -free entry.
North Americans and some of the transit can enter for 10 days
It has an option other than 10 countries that are not in a visa -free plan: they go to a different country than they came to China for up to 10 days. According to the country’s National Immigration Administration, the policy is limited to 60 entry port.
Transit policy is valid for 55 countries, but most of them are included in the 30 -day visa -free entry list. It offers a more restrictive option for citizens of 10 countries: Czech Republic, Lithuania, Sweden, Russia, the United Kingdom, Ukraine, Indonesia, Canada, USA and Mexico.
Sweden is the only high -income European country that does not make a 30 -day list. It has been worn out with China since the decision The Chinese Communist Party sentenced a Swedish book seller Gui Minhai to 10 years in prison In 2015, the GUI disappeared from the coastal house in Thailand, but months later, the police in the Chinese mainland appeared in custody.
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Associated Press writer Ken Moritsugu and video producer Liu Zheng contributed to this report in Beijing.
