China has expanded its visa-free entry programme, welcoming citizens from two more European nations. Initially introduced in December for citizens of five European countries and Malaysia, the programme aims to boost business and tourism. Chinese Premier Li Qiang announced during his visit to Europe for the World Economic Forum in Davos that Irish and Swiss nationals would now be added to the list, joining citizens from France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Malaysia.
The extension of visa-free entry is part of China’s strategy to facilitate high-quality development in personnel exchanges and open up to the world. This initiative comes as the country seeks to encourage foreign visitors after the strict pandemic measures, including mandatory quarantines, significantly impacted international travel for nearly three years. While these restrictions were lifted early in the previous year, the recovery of international travel to China has been slower than expected.
Under the trial programme, citizens of the mentioned countries will be granted visa-free entry for up to 15 days. The program is set to be in effect for one year, allowing authorities to assess its impact and potentially make adjustments based on the outcomes. The move is aligned with the Chinese government’s broader efforts to attract foreign investment and boost its economy.
Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, China has been actively seeking foreign investment. Business leaders such as Tesla’s Elon Musk and Apple’s Tim Cook have visited the country for trade fairs and meetings. However, the number of foreign tourists has yet to reach pre-pandemic levels, and the extension of visa-free entry to additional European countries is part of the strategy to revitalize international tourism.
China’s visa-free entry for citizens of Brunei, Japan, and Singapore was temporarily suspended after the COVID-19 outbreak, with entry resuming for Brunei and Singapore in July of the previous year. However, Japan remains excluded from the current program.
In 2023, China recorded 35.5 million entries and exits by foreigners, a significant drop compared to the 97.7 million in 2019, the year before the pandemic. The government hopes that simplifying entry procedures for citizens of these European countries will contribute to the recovery of international travel to China.
European interest in China as a tourist destination has surged, with a 663% increase in overall bookings from Europe to China in the past year, according to data from online travel agency Trip.com. The United Kingdom and Germany were among the top 10 sources of inbound travellers to China globally. Shanghai remains the most popular destination among Europeans, followed by Beijing, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen, showcasing the diverse attractions China has to offer. As the recovery continues, the expansion of the visa-free entry programme is expected to play a crucial role in attracting more visitors from Europe and beyond.
