China has broadened its visa-free policy to encompass six additional countries, including Switzerland and Ireland, effective from Thursday. The move is seen as a concerted effort to stimulate inbound tourism and enhance people-to-people exchanges.
The recent expansion of the visa-free policy aligns with China’s ongoing efforts to waive visa requirements for citizens of various countries, particularly those within Southeast Asia. Additionally, the nation has been addressing impediments encountered by foreign visitors, such as payment obstacles, indicating its steadfast commitment to openness, experts have highlighted.
This decision comes amid a backdrop where several major nations, including the United States, are tightening visa policies for Chinese citizens. Analysts underscore that China’s series of opening-up initiatives underscore the nation’s confidence and receptiveness to an open global economy, in contrast to the growing trend of isolationism and protectionism in certain countries.
Under the latest development, citizens from six European countries – Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, and Luxembourg – are permitted to visit China for business, tourism, transit, and other purposes for up to 15 days without requiring a visa. This visa-free arrangement, effective until November 30, 2024, was previously announced and has already spurred preparations by airlines, travel agencies, and prospective visitors.
The inaugural direct flight between South China’s Guangdong and the aforementioned European countries arrived in Shenzhen on Thursday. Operated by Hainan Airlines, the flight originating from Brussels, Belgium, welcomed over 20 Belgian nationals. In anticipation of heightened passenger traffic, Hainan Airlines has increased its flights between China and these countries, with a particular focus on the Beijing-Brussels and Shenzhen-Brussels routes.
Concurrently, there has been a surge in flight searches from Europe to China, with a notable 60 percent increase in searches for flights from Zurich, as reported by Chinese online travel platform Qunar.com.
Aviation information provider VariFlight has observed a positive trend in flight routes between China and Europe since the implementation of the visa-free policy. This uptick indicates potential growth in tourism and business exchanges between the two regions, further strengthening bilateral ties.
China’s commitment to facilitating inbound travel extends beyond Europe, with recent visa waivers for citizens from countries like France and Germany. Moreover, mutual visa exemption agreements with Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand have already yielded significant increases in inbound travelers, reaching 3.23 million during the Chinese Lunar New Year holidays.
In addition to visa exemptions, China has undertaken measures to enhance the convenience of visiting for foreign nationals. This includes streamlining visa application procedures and improving payment services, addressing issues such as the acceptance of foreign bank cards and identity authentication procedures, which have posed challenges for many foreign visitors.
Last week, China’s State Council issued a notice urging banks and payment entities to enhance cooperation to improve and expand mobile payment services for foreign visitors. The People’s Bank of China subsequently issued a guide to payment services in China, underscoring the availability of multiple payment options, including mobile payments, for foreign visitors.
Experts view these measures as part of China’s broader strategy of comprehensive opening-up, reflecting the nation’s openness and confidence amidst a global landscape marked by rising protectionism and economic disruptions. Bian Yongzu, a senior researcher at the Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies, Renmin University of China, emphasized that these visa-free policies signify China’s support for people-to-people exchanges, economic globalization, and opposition to trade protectionism.
As the world continues to grapple with economic and geopolitical uncertainties, China’s commitment to openness and international cooperation stands as a beacon of stability and inclusivity in an increasingly interconnected global community.
