BEIJING (Bloomberg): China aims to expand unilateral visa-free entry to more countries, according to a plan released Monday by the State Council, as the government tries to give the flagging tourism industry and economy a boost.
The cabinet said the plan would be implemented in "an orderly manner,” but it didn’t provide a time frame or say which countries would qualify.
The move would build on China’s unprecedented decision last year to ease visa requirements for dozens of countries.
Tourists still aren’t coming in the numbers the government had hoped.
A Bloomberg News analysis showed that foreign visitor entries to China totaled just under 23 million in the first three quarters of 2024, or about 63% of the same period in 2019, when only a handful of places had visa-free rights.
Visa-free travel is now possible for citizens of 38 countries, while China has also relaxed entry rules for transit passengers.
The State Council also said Monday that it is encouraging local governments to offer vouchers to drive tourism spending, as well as arrange special bonds to support cultural and tourism projects.
-- ©2025 Bloomberg L.P.
