≡-France, Germany, Brazil, Australia, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Azerbaijan, and Kazakhstan Among Seventy four Nations Now Eligible for 30-Day Visa-Free Travel to China in Landmark Policy Shift to Boost Global Tourism and Strengthen International Ties – Viral of Today

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Home » Australia Travel News » France, Germany, Brazil, Australia, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Azerbaijan, and Kazakhstan Among Seventy four Nations Now Eligible for 30-Day Visa-Free Travel to China in Landmark Policy Shift to Boost Global Tourism and Strengthen International Ties Friday, July 11, 2025In a transformative step to reinvigorate its tourism industry and deepen international cooperation, China has officially extended 30-day visa-free entry to travelers from 74 countries, including France, Germany, Brazil, Australia, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Azerbaijan, and Kazakhstan. Effective July 16, 2024, the new policy is designed to attract more global visitors, stimulate post-pandemic economic growth, and strengthen diplomatic and cultural ties with key regions across Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Latin America. This landmark move reflects China’s strategic commitment to opening its borders wider and positioning itself as a more accessible and welcoming destination for international tourism.China Expands Visa-Free Travel to 74 Countries to Support Tourism Boom and Economic ReboundAs part of its historic policy shift to reopen China’s doors to inward tourism and help turn around the economy, China has announced the significant expansion of its visa-free entry policy. The citizens of 74 countries will be able to visit China visa-free and stay for 30 days from July 16, 2024. The strategic amendment constitutes one of the nation’s biggest visa relaxation measures in recent history and comes at the right time as the nation aims to reposition itself as the ultimate destination for international travelers.China’s Tourism Policy Embarks on a New PageThe statement to provide visa-free access to scores of additional countries reaffirms the bigger goal of enhancing global connectivity and strengthening the country’s status in world tourism. The additional eligible countries include those from Asia to Europe, the Americas, Oceania, and some areas in Africa, and they make China one of the easiest places to access for global travelers.This updated version builds on incremental amendments made since 2023, the year China first began to unwind border restrictions during the post-pandemic era. Up to this point, temporary visa exemptions were only accorded to a special list of states. The July 2024 version liberalizes the list of states eligible drastically, in line with China’s clear commitment to attracting more tourists from the broader international community.Visa-Free Travel Experiences Explosive GrowthOfficial figures report more than 20 million foreign tourists coming to China visa-free in 2024—a more than 100% year-over-year rise from 2023. The record surge is due to the global interest in visiting China being on the increase, especially as air routes continue to resume and health-related entry restrictions continue to ease.The cities of Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Chengdu have registered peaks in the inflow of tourists, with the cultural sites and heritage being the most crowded with more queues and greater booking figures. Away from the cities, the culture- and natural beauty-rich provinces of Yunnan, Guangxi, and Sichuan have also registered significant peaks in the inflow from abroad.Impact on Travel Industry and Local EconomyThe rebound in tourism is creating renewed buzz in most industries, from hotels to ground transportation, retail shops, and culinary service. Restaurants have been filled with more foreign patrons, hotels have been full, and museums and cultural centers have expanded multilanguage services to accommodate the wave of foreign tourists.Travel agents and tour operators expand the range of services in order to meet surging demand. Others are designing special tours for tourists from newly visa-free countries, including cultural immersion, heritage products, and exploration of places. Some firms also are investing in digital technology and reservation systems for maximizing customer service and real-time communication.Furthermore, the long-term visa policy aims to promote job creation and entrepreneurships along the tourism value chain. As foreign tourists continue to increase in numbers, service providers are gearing up by enhancing infrastructure, recruiting additional multilingual staff, and improving access in airports, subway lines, and attractions.Soft Power, Diplomacy, and Global ImageSoft powerChina’s plan to allow visa-free entry for 74 countries is more than just an economics policy, for it has diplomatic and cultural objectives as well. By simplifying travel for additional foreign citizens, China aims to promote people-to-people diplomacy, enhance cultural exchange, and show a more open and welcoming national character.This aligns with China’s broader soft power agenda, including hosting massive global events, its propagation of intangible cultural heritage, and its cultural diplomacy in the form of tourism. With additional foreign tourists being in direct contact with the culture, traditions, and individuals of China, the country will benefit more from effective cross-cultural communication and long-term positive emotions.Preparing the Infrastructure for the FutureTo prepare for future growth, local authorities and tourism bureaus around China have been enhancing airport capacity, infrastructure, and tourism amenities. Major airports in Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Beijing have increased staff at immigration booths and introduced special lanes for visa-free tourists to speed entry.Also, different cities have launched multilingual digital trip apps with transport, points of interest, where to stay, and safety alerts information in real time. The tourist information centers are also being equipped with high-tech translation services and self-service kiosks to handle foreign guests more efficiently.The Ministry of Culture and Tourism of China and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are also considering additional steps, including:Expansion of the 72-hour and 144-hour visa-free transit policy to more cities.Launch of e-visa schemes for non-eligible nationalities from the current visa-free list.Collaboration with airlines to promote tourism packages from visa-exempt states.Holding international roadshows and expos to promote China’s tourism assets.Future Prospects: 2025 and BeyondAs China restores its place in the post-pandemic tourism landscape, officials predict even greater inbound growth in the years to come. Industry commentators anticipate that visa-free arrivals would reach 30 million in 2025 aided by increased air capacity, special drives for targeted tourism promotion, and improved on-the-ground experience.Thismomentum is also expected to attract additional foreign investment in tourism areas, including hotels, smart tourism technology, and local tour operations. By leveraging visa policy as the engine of growth, China sets the foundation for broader rebound in the economy and global reengagement.Visa-Free Travel Snapshot for 2024Policy DetailInformationEffective DateJuly 16, 2024Visa-Free Staying PeriodUp to 30 daysEligible Countries74Visa-Free Travelers in 202420+ million2023 Growth> 100%| Main Benefits | Stimulating the economy, cultural exchange, enhancement of soft power |ConclusionChina’s extended visa-free entry to tourists from 74 countries is the historic act of reconstructing and revitalizing its tourism industry. With global traveling back on track, the forward-thinking policy has China on track to resume its status as one of the world’s top destination points concurrently sparking business action, job creation, and cross-cultural interaction. With planning and infrastructure for long-term growth on the horizon, the future is looking bright for the next generation of freedom and discovery in the tourism of China.Tags: Australia, Azerbaijan, brazil, china, france, germany, global tourism recovery, kazakhstan, saudi arabia, Tourism news, Travel News, United Arab Emirates, visa-free travel

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