What's happened
China has increased its visa-free entry to 55 countries and extended stay durations to 240 hours nationwide, boosting inbound tourism. Visitor numbers are rising, with Shanghai and Beijing experiencing significant growth. The measures aim to recover tourism post-pandemic, but challenges remain in digital payments and marketing efforts.
What's behind the headline?
China's recent visa policy expansions will significantly boost inbound tourism, as evidenced by the 15.8% increase in cross-border trips in the first half of 2025. The move to extend visa-free stays to 240 hours and include more countries will likely lead to sustained growth in tourism revenue and international engagement. However, challenges such as digital payment barriers and limited overseas marketing remain. The rapid growth in tourism-related sales, especially in Shanghai and Beijing, indicates a strong recovery trajectory. These policies will also enhance China’s soft power and economic resilience, but the country must address ongoing issues like internet restrictions and visa application processes to maximize benefits.
What the papers say
Contrasting perspectives are evident across sources. The South China Morning Post highlights the expansion of visa-free policies and increased travel, emphasizing the positive economic impact. They note that 55 countries now benefit from 240-hour transit visas, covering most European nations, the US, Canada, and Australia, with inbound trips rising by 15.8%. Conversely, the AP News and the New York Post focus on the broader effort to boost tourism through visa relaxations, citing the surge in visitors and the easing of duty-free shopping rules. However, the South China Morning Post also discusses remaining hurdles, such as internet restrictions and marketing challenges, which are less emphasized in the US outlets. Overall, all sources agree that China’s policy shifts are a strategic move to revive tourism, but they differ in their emphasis on the potential obstacles and the scale of impact.
How we got here
China began easing pandemic restrictions in late 2023, expanding visa-free entry policies to attract foreign visitors, stimulate the economy, and promote cultural exchanges. The country previously allowed limited transit visas and regional visa-free schemes, but recent measures now cover more countries and nationwide ports, aiming to recover from pandemic-related declines in tourism.
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China, officially the People's Republic of China, is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population of around 1.4 billion in 2019.