China recorded 14.64 million inbound trips made by foreigners in the first half of 2024, up 152.7 percent year on year, the National Immigration Administration said on Friday.
Behind the increasing number of inbound tourists is China's expansion of its visa-free "circle of friends" and creation of more favorable conditions to cater to the needs of international travelers.
An increasing number of countries have been added to China's visa exemption list. In November 2023, China initiated a unilateral visa-free policy for ordinary passport holders from six countries. In March this year, six additional European countries were included.
In late January, China and Thailand signed an agreement on mutual visa exemption which came into effect on March 1. In May, China extended visa exemption entry for citizens from 12 countries on short-term visits to China until the end of 2025.
The visa-free policy has encouraged a greater flow of people traveling between China and the world. For example, according to the Geneva office of Air China, 6,364 passengers traveled between Geneva and Beijing in March 2024 following the commencement of the visa exemption policy, up 374.9 percent from a year earlier.
Meanwhile, China has put in place numerous reform measures to make journeying within the country easier for international travelers.
In January, China implemented a set of measures to facilitate the entry of foreign nationals into China for business, education and tourism, including a relaxation of port visa application requirements.
China has also taken intensive steps to smooth the payment process for foreign travelers. In March, China released a guideline to optimize payment services using bank cards, promoting cash use and facilitating mobile payment.
Foreign users of major payment service providers such as Alipay and WeChat Pay can now link their international credit cards, including Visa and MasterCard, to these platforms. More payment facilities, together with guides and instructions, have been added in scenic spots, shops, metro stations and hotels.
The visa-free policy and new measures are designed to help foreigners journey through China and experience the land at first hand. Many tourists share their travel vlogs on social media platforms such as TikTok and YouTube, offering fresh perspectives for the world to discover China.