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China Announces Visa Exemption for Citizens from Specific Countries to Spur Tourism

In a move aimed at jumpstarting the country’s tourism industry in the wake of the pandemic, China has announced a temporary visa exemption for citizens from France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Malaysia. This exemption will be in effect from December 1, 2021, to November 30, 2024.

According to a spokesperson from the Chinese foreign ministry, citizens from the aforementioned countries will not need a visa when visiting China for business, tourism, sightseeing, visiting relatives and friends, or transiting for up to 15 days.

This latest development is part of a series of measures taken by China to revive its tourism sector, which has been heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. In recent months, China has resumed international flight routes and expanded its visa-free transit policy to include citizens from 54 countries, with Norway being the latest addition.

Other initiatives aimed at reviving tourism in China include the scrapping of all COVID-19 testing requirements for inbound travelers and the resumption of 15-day visa-free entry for citizens of Singapore and Brunei.

As the country continues to recover from the effects of the pandemic, international flights in and out of China have been gradually increasing. In fact, China’s aviation regulator announced that there will be 16,680 weekly flights in the five months following its October statement, with passenger flights expected to reach 71% of the total from four years ago.

These efforts to stimulate tourism in China are a clear indication of the country’s commitment to revitalizing its economy and welcoming visitors from around the world. With these new measures in place, China is poised to once again become a top destination for international travelers.