Foreign Tourism to China Surges as Visa-Free Travel Expands to 75 Countries

Foreign tourism in China is making a strong comeback, driven by the country’s most significant visa relaxations in years. In 2024 alone, over 20 million foreign travellers entered China without a visa—more than double last year’s total and accounting for nearly one-third of all international arrivals, according to the National Immigration Administration.

Starting July 16, citizens of 75 countries will be allowed visa-free entry for up to 30 days, a dramatic increase from the limited list of nations allowed such access before the pandemic. The broad policy shift—largely rolled out on a one-year trial basis—is part of China’s strategy to revive tourism, stimulate economic activity, and boost soft power after years of strict COVID-19 lockdowns.

“This really helps people to travel because it is such a hassle to apply for a visa,” said Georgi Shavadze, a tourist from Georgia.

Who Benefits from the New Policy?

The expanded visa-free access primarily benefits travellers from Europe, Latin America, Asia, and the Middle East. In recent months, China has added countries such as France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Uzbekistan, Argentina, and several Gulf nations to the list.

“It’s a relief,” said Norwegian traveller Oystein Sporsheim, who cited the difficulty of scheduling appointments at Chinese embassies.

Tourism Sector Sees Booming Demand

Tourism businesses are scrambling to meet the influx. Gao Jun, a longtime English-speaking tour guide in Beijing, said he is “overwhelmed” and has launched a training program to recruit more staff. Jenny Zhao, Managing Director of luxury travel firm WildChina, said bookings have surged 50% above pre-pandemic levels.

According to Trip.com Group, China-bound travel bookings in Q1 2024 doubled year-on-year, with 75% of customers hailing from visa-free countries.

Gaps and Limitations Remain

Despite the overall optimism, some glaring exclusions remain. No major African nations are included in the visa-free list, despite China’s strong diplomatic and economic ties across the continent. Similarly, travellers from the U.S., U.K., Canada, Sweden, and several others do not qualify for the 30-day exemption.

However, citizens of these countries may enter China visa-free for 10 days under a transit policy available at 60 designated ports, provided they are en route to a third destination.

Notably, Sweden—a high-income EU country—is the only major European nation left off the list, a move linked to strained diplomatic ties following the sentencing of Swedish publisher Gui Minhai in 2020.

Changing Travel Patterns

Despite political caveats, the visa reforms are already transforming travel demographics. Jenny Zhao notes that Europeans now account for 15–20% of her clients, up from less than 5% before the pandemic.

As visa walls come down, China is positioning itself once again as a global tourist magnet—welcoming millions more under its open-door experiment.