Visitors pour into country as eased visa rules work their magic

Independent

4 days ago

The number of foreigners coming to China visa-free rose significantly in the first six months of the year, as the country continued to open its doors wider for international travellers.
Foreign nationals made 13.6 million visa-free entries into the country in the period, 54 per cent more than in the corresponding period last year, the National Immigration Administration said.
These trips accounted for 71 per cent of all entries by foreign nationals in the first half of the year, it said.
During the first six months the number of entries and exits by foreign nationals into and from China totalled 38 million, 30 per cent more than in the corresponding period last year.
This year China has relaxed rules on entry into the country to attract more foreign visitors.
Last month it added Indonesia to a list of countries whose citizens are eligible for visa-free transit, allowing Indonesians travelling to a third country to enter China visa-free through designated ports, and for up to 10 days.
Since February, tourist groups from member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations have been allowed to stay in Xishuangbanna, Yunnan province, for up to six days after entering the country visa-free through designated ports.
China expanded the list of unilateral visa-free countries to 47 in June.
China's immigration authorities also issue visas to foreign ordinary passport holders who arrive at the country's ports for emergency or humanitarian reasons, but who do not have time to lodge an application for a visa with Chinese diplomatic missions, the National Immigration Administration said.
The relaxed visa rules have encouraged many foreign nationals to come to China for tourism and business, have helped increase inbound consumption and have helped improve understanding between China and other countries, it said.
A woman from Poland, 22, who wished to remain anonymous, said she is in China with a friend to attend a summer camp on Chinese language and culture, as well as for sightseeing. The pair, who arrived on 15 July, planned to visit Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong.
'We are very excited for the time that we will spend here,' said the woman, who is on her second trip to China but entered the country visa-free for the first time.
Poland was among countries whose citizens were granted visa-free entry to China last year.
'It's a very nice policy,' the woman said, adding that it spared her the potentially cumbersome process needed for getting a visa.
Yang Jinsong, a researcher with the China Tourism Academy in Beijing, said the increase in international visitors to China reflects the positive effect of the country's measures for stimulating cross-border travel.
These measures have increased China's popularity among international travellers, Yang said, noting that the country's inbound tourism market has recovered strongly in recent years.