China's Visa-Free Policy Fuels Surge in Foreign Travel, Reaching Nearly 30 Million Visits in 2024

China's Expanding Visa-Free Policy Fuels Surge in Foreign Travel

China's expanding visa-free policy has fueled a surge in foreign travel to the country, making "China travel" a new global trend. This policy has led to a significant increase in inbound foreign visits, with nearly 29.22 million recorded between January and November 2024, a 86.2 percent year-on-year increase.

The policy has been particularly popular with Koreans, who have been flocking to Shanghai in large numbers, and Thais, who have been drawn to the "magical city" of Chongqing. This has led to a surge in domestic flight bookings made by foreign travelers, with those from the US, Russia, Canada, South Korea, and Australia ranking in the top five.

The recent relaxation of the visa-free transit policy, which extends the permitted stay for eligible foreign travelers from 72 hours to 10 days, is expected to further boost foreign travel to China. This will allow visitors to explore lesser-known small and medium-sized cities, particularly those rich in culture, which are expected to become popular destinations.

The policy has also led to a change in destination choices, with more second-tier cities like Chengdu, Chongqing, Hangzhou, and Xi'an becoming favorites for foreign tourists. Additionally, destinations with unique cultural and natural beauties like Zhangjiajie, Lijiang, and Shangri-La are also attracting more foreign visitors.

Experts predict that cross-regional deep travel by foreigners in China will become the next trend following the updated policy. This will allow visitors to experience the country's diverse culture and natural beauty in a more immersive way.

With the optimization of visa policies for foreigners and the convenience policies for mainland residents traveling to Hong Kong and Macao, ports across the nation are expected to experience a peak in inbound and outbound passenger flow during the upcoming New Year's Day holidays. The peak period is anticipated to be concentrated on the evening of December 31, 2024, and January 1, 2025, with an average of 2.05 million travelers entering and exiting daily, representing an 18.8 percent increase compared to the same period last year.