China to Expand Visa-Free Entry: A Boost for Tourism and Economy

China is set to broaden its visa-free entry policy to include more countries, according to a plan unveiled by the State Council on Monday. The initiative aims to revitalize the nation’s struggling tourism sector and stimulate economic growth.

While the State Council emphasized that the expansion will be carried out in an “orderly manner,” details such as the timeline or the specific countries to be included remain undisclosed.

This move follows China’s landmark decision last year to simplify visa requirements for dozens of nations. However, despite these efforts, foreign tourist arrivals have yet to meet expectations. A Bloomberg News analysis revealed that foreign entries into China reached just under 23 million during the first three quarters of 2024—about 63% of the same period in 2019, when visa-free travel was limited to only a few destinations.

Currently, citizens from 38 countries can travel to China without a visa, and the government has also eased entry rules for transit passengers to encourage more visits.

In addition to expanding visa-free travel, the State Council announced further measures to boost tourism. These include urging local governments to issue vouchers to stimulate spending in the sector and allocating special bonds to support cultural and tourism infrastructure projects.

With these steps, China is positioning itself as a more accessible destination, hoping to rekindle global interest and restore its pre-pandemic status as a tourism powerhouse.