China extends visa-free liberty for 12 countries: Details inside

BEIJING – In a bid to bolster tourism, Chinese authorities have announced an extension of visa exemption privileges for citizens of 12 countries.

Chinese President Xi Jinping confirmed this move during the sixth Meeting of the China-France Business Council. The visa waiver, set to last until the end of 2025, offers significant relief for citizens from France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Malaysia, Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, and Luxembourg.

According to Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian, travelers from these nations can enjoy a visa-free stay of up to 15 days for purposes such as business, sightseeing, and transit.

China’s decision comes amidst efforts to revamp its tourism sector following the pandemic-induced lockdown. Earlier this year, the country expanded its 15-day visa-free entry policy to six additional European countries, and it recently signed a permanent visa-free agreement with Thailand.

The fresh announcement reflects China’s commitment to boosting its economy through tourism, signaling a gradual reopening to the world after strict COVID-19 measures.

As far as the statistics are concerned, China welcomed 407,900 inbound international tourists in the first half of this year – double the number of visitors for the whole of 2022 though the figures are still down 11 percent compared to 2019 when the pandemic had not affected travel patterns.