An initiative launched in 2023 to revive tourism
Since December 2023, China has initiated a visa waiver program for citizens of six countries, including France, Germany, Italy and Malaysia. This measure allows stays of 15 days without a visa, for tourism, business or family visits. Over the months, this policy was extended in installments to a total of 38 countries, marking an important step in China’s strategy to revive international travel. On November 30, 2024, 9 new countries were exempted from Visa for short-term visits, until December 31, 2025. Among the new beneficiaries are Balkan countries such as Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Montenegro, or even North Macedonia. There are also Baltic countries, such as Estonia and Latvia. Finally we find Malta as well as Japan These initiatives aim to revitalize the Chinese tourism sector, seriously affected by the pandemic. The duration of visa-free stay has also been extended to 30 days, an important change for travelers and tourism professionals. Tong also highlighted measures to streamline the visa application process, mentioning how a 34 percent reduction in visa application form items has significantly reduced the time needed to complete paperwork, said official Tong Xuejun from the consular department of the ministry,
A significant increase in foreign visitors
The results of this policy were not long in coming. Between July and September 2024, China recorded 8.19 million foreign visitors, an increase of 48.8% from the previous year. Of these, nearly 4.9 million entered thanks to the visa waiver, representing an impressive increase of 78.6% year-on-year.
This influx demonstrates the effectiveness of the Chinese strategy to attract international visitors. The simplification of procedures, such as the elimination of prior appointments and the reduction of visa fees by 25%, has also contributed to the increase in tourism. At the same time, China has eased formalities for Chinese citizens wishing to travel abroad, with bilateral visa-free agreements, notably with Thailand, which wishes to attract Chinese tourists.
Strengthening bilateral trade
Beyond tourism, this visa exemption policy is part of a broader diplomatic strategy. By facilitating trade and reducing the administrative burden for foreign visitors by 34%, China aims to strengthen its bilateral relations with its international partners. This relaxation also meets the needs of business travelers, for whom speed and flexibility are essential criteria. This approach is of particular importance for Japan, which already benefited from a visa waiver before its temporary suspension during the Covid-19 pandemic. According to the International Tourism Agency, the number of Japanese tourists to China gradually decreased between 2010 and 2018. In addition, recent incidents involving Japanese nationals in China have contributed to reducing the destination’s attractiveness for Japanese travelers. With this new measure, China hopes to regain the confidence of Japanese tourists and revive this essential part of the tourism sector.
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