China’s Tourism Milestone: Nearly Nine Million Foreign Visitors Post-Visa Reform
China’s 240-hour visa-free transit policy, launched in December 2024, has resulted in a remarkable increase in tourism, attracting nearly 9 million foreign visitors by March 2025. The policy expansion to 38 countries facilitates visa-free stays, greatly benefiting key airports and transit points across the country, especially the border town of Mohan.
China has experienced a significant increase in tourism, registering nearly 9 million foreign visitors within three months of implementing its 240-hour visa-free transit policy on December 17, 2024. From the launch until March 17, 2025, the country recorded approximately 8.885 million foreign entries, marking a 34.9% rise compared to the same period in 2024.
To enhance international travel, China has expanded its unilateral visa-free policy to encompass travelers from 38 countries, allowing stays up to 30 days without a visa. This policy change has particularly benefitted Beijing, with Daxing International Airport witnessing over 1 million passenger movements this year and around 211,000 foreign arrivals, representing a substantial year-over-year increase of 67.9%.
In Yunnan Province, the border town of Mohan has evolved into a vital tourism hub, facilitating China-Laos travel. Recently, it received the first ASEAN visa-free tourist group via the Kunming-Mohan land port. Furthermore, local authorities have established a communication channel with educational institutions and a dedicated lane for international students. In 2024 alone, the Mohan checkpoint served over 2.848 million individuals from 117 countries and regions.
Harbin Taiping International Airport in Heilongjiang Province has also improved its services for visa-free travelers. It has introduced new express lanes for expedited customs clearance and self-service terminal options for printing registration documents. Zhang Wei, the deputy director of Harbin Border Inspection, disclosed that the number of manual verification counters has expanded from 8 to 12, along with the addition of eight new fast-track lanes to manage the growing influx of international arrivals.
In summary, China’s new 240-hour visa-free transit policy has substantially enhanced its tourism, attracting nearly 9 million foreign visitors in three months. The expansion of the visa-free program to include travelers from 38 countries has notably increased arrivals, especially at major airports like Daxing and Harbin. Additionally, Mohan has emerged as a key tourism gateway, reinforcing the nation’s commitment to boosting international travel.
Original Source: www.travelandtourworld.com
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