BEIJING, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- French tourist Stephane is on his third trip to China. This time, he brought his daughter Mia, and they were exempt from applying for a visa.
"I've been interested in Chinese culture since long ago, and the visa-free policy makes the trip very convenient," said Stephane as the pair strolled out of the Temple of Heaven.
China continued to ease its visa policies in 2024 to boost openness and people-to-people exchanges, allowing more foreign travelers and business people to visit the country visa-free.
The latest data proves that the relaxation of its visa policies has delivered visible results. The National Immigration Administration (NIA) said on Tuesday that cross-border trips made by foreigners surged 82.9 percent from a year ago to 64.88 million in 2024.
More than 20 million inbound foreign trips were made visa-free, a year-on-year increase of 112.3 percent, according to the NIA.
BOON TO CHINA TRAVEL
In 2024, China introduced a series of new visa-free entry and transit policies, demonstrating its unswerving determination and commitment to opening up.
In November, China granted unilateral visa-free entry to travelers from more nations, adding the Republic of Korea (ROK) and Japan to the list and extending stays to 30 days.
The following month, China extended the permitted stay for eligible foreign travelers who transit to a third country or region to 240 hours. The designated ports and travel regions were also substantially expanded, enhancing flexibility for international visitors.
So far, China has established comprehensive mutual visa exemptions with 25 countries, implemented unilateral visa-free policies for 38 countries, and transit visa-free policies for 54 countries, including Britain, the United States and Canada.
Thanks to these measures, the China Travel trend, which started earlier in 2024, has been further boosted.
Like many tourists from countries far from China, Stephane plans to have a longer stay in China. After Beijing, he will visit the ancient town Pingyao in Shanxi Province and Chongqing.
Visitors from neighboring countries, such as the ROK and Japan, have embraced the opportunity to visit China for short trips, contributing to a growing trend of weekend getaways to destinations like Shanghai and Qingdao in east China.
"This policy is excellent for young people," said one ROK tourist visiting Shanghai. "Now we can head to China for a weekend after work on Fridays."
A report released by Chinese online travel agency Ctrip shows that the volume of travel bookings from foreign tourists to China during the upcoming Chinese New Year grew by 203 percent compared to the same period last year.
UPGRADED TRAVEL EXPERIENCE
"Why not?" Stephane answered when asked why he would come to China.
"I like the culture, the food, the glamorous cities, and the nice scenery in the countryside," he said. "Most importantly, everything is very easy, though I know only a few Chinese words."
Stephane and his daughter traveled by themselves, booking hotels and tickets online and making payments using WeChat on his cellphone.
The pleasant experience shared by many international travelers is mainly due to various measures launched by national and local authorities to improve convenience for foreigners, as payment, transportation and tourism facilitation are being upgraded continuously.
One-stop service counters have gone operational recently in the international arrival areas of the Beijing Capital International Airport and the Beijing Daxing International Airport, offering over 20 types of essential services in areas such as finance, communication, transportation, culture and tourism.
Foreign travelers can visit the counters to make cash withdrawals with their bank cards, get help with downloading local mobile payment apps and customize travel itineraries.
China's tourism sector has also optimized its supply of products to embrace the opportunity. Beijing has provided new tourism offerings, such as strolling and cycling along the Central Axis, and lantern festival activities, attracting numerous foreigners.
Chinese travel agency CYTS International Travel Co., Ltd. now offers Tai Chi lessons, cooking classes, and walking tours in cultural areas.
COST-EFFECTIVE BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
The policy changes are not just drawing tourists but also business travelers. Merchants in cities like Yiwu, home to one of the world's largest wholesale markets, have witnessed a rise in face-to-face meetings with international clients.
Merchant Lyu Xulian noted a steady increase in foreign clients since the implementation of the 144-hour transit visa exemption policy in 2023. The visa-free policy in early November for nine more countries has further lowered barriers to international business.
For many clients, the visa-free policy reduces costs and saves time, making in-person trade deals more appealing.
"Over 80 percent of in-store clients place orders on the spot after seeing our products and operations first-hand," said Jin Qi, another Yiwu-based trader.
The extended 240-hour transit visa exemption is expected to attract more business visitors to cities like Yiwu. Local governments are already taking action to leverage the policy to seize business opportunities. ■