China Welcomes Surge in Foreign Visitors in 2024
China witnessed a significant increase in foreign visitors in 2024, fueled by the country's ongoing efforts to enhance cross-border travel. The National Immigration Administration (NIA) reported over 20.11 million visa-free trips made by foreign travelers, more than double the figure recorded in 2023.
The total number of inbound and outbound trips reached 610 million in 2024, representing a 43.9% year-on-year increase. Of these trips, 64.88 million were made by foreign citizens, marking an 82.9% increase compared to the previous year. Additionally, the NIA issued approximately 2.6 million visas to foreigners, a 52.3% year-on-year rise.
The NIA's proactive policies played a crucial role in attracting more foreign visitors. In December, the agency implemented an improved visa-free transit policy, extending the stay period to 10 days and expanding the number of eligible ports and destinations. The NIA also actively participated in expanding the unilateral visa-free entry policy to more countries.
These efforts align with the State Council's recent call for further expansion of the visa-free entry policy and extension of visa-free stays to stimulate growth in the culture and tourism sector. In November, China added nine countries to its unilateral visa-free entry list, bringing the total to 38, and extended the visa-free stay duration to 30 days.
Tourism companies have lauded these favorable policies, highlighting their positive impact on the domestic tourist market. The visa-free entry policy has reduced the financial, time, and administrative burden for potential foreign travelers, making China a more attractive tourist destination. The extended stay duration allows visitors to plan longer trips and explore more of the country.
The NIA remains committed to strengthening the monitoring of cross-border travel flows and port operations. During the upcoming Spring Festival holiday, the agency will issue travel advisories and deploy sufficient personnel to ensure efficient border clearance for Chinese citizens, aiming to keep waiting times below 30 minutes.
9 Comments
Karamba
With careful planning and management, the surge in tourism can be a force for good in China.
Matzomaster
Huge influx of tourists will strain local resources and infrastructure.
Rotfront
China is taking steps to ensure the responsible development of tourism and minimize negative impacts.
Loubianka
More transparency is needed in how the government plans to manage the surge in tourism and mitigate potential negative impacts.
Katchuka
The government should focus on promoting sustainable tourism practices that benefit both visitors and local communities.
ZmeeLove
The benefits of tourism may not be evenly distributed, with local communities bearing the brunt of negative impacts.
Muchacha
The growth of tourism will help to develop and improve infrastructure in popular destinations.
Muchacho
This policy may be too focused on short-term gains and not enough on long-term sustainability.
Coccinella
The data on tourist arrivals may be inflated and not accurately reflect the true impact of the policy.