China to Resume Visa-free Policies, Benefiting More Tourists

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China will resume visa-free policies and consider adding more countries to its visa-exemption list to help boost the country’s post-pandemic tourism business, according to a policy document released by the central government on Friday (Sep 29).

In a statement posted on the central government’s website, it said visa-free policies and visa assurances on arrival would be promoted as well as smoother immigration clearances for cruises and self-driving tourists.

China also plans to make it easier for foreign tourists to book tickets, register at hotels and use their overseas bank cards in an effort to boost stubbornly low visitation figures.

Optimizing Visa and Customs Policies

Further improve visa processing efficiency and enhance the informatization of visa issuance. Gradually restore various types of visa-free policies and actively explore increasing the number of visa-free countries.

Fully leverage the positive impact of policies such as port visas, transit visa exemptions, and regional inbound visa exemptions on the development of the tourism industry, and increase policy promotion efforts. Provide customs clearance support for cruise tourism, self-driving tourism, and other tourism activities involving entry and exit.

Resuming and Increasing International Flights

Increase routes to and from major source countries for inbound tourism and neighboring countries, increase flight frequencies, and improve the convenience of air travel.

Improving Inbound Tourism Services

Enhance the convenience for foreign tourists and residents of Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan with valid documents to book tickets for tourist attractions, purchase vehicle (or boat) tickets, and register accommodation at hotels.

Strengthen foreign language training for tour guides and service personnel in tourist attractions, hotels, etc., and improve multilingual signs and guide facilities in tourist attractions, airports, train stations, hotels, shopping centers, and other places. Improve the convenience of inbound tourists using foreign bank cards and various electronic payment methods, as well as the ease of foreign currency exchange.

Optimizing Departure Tax Refund Services

Enhance the quality and efficiency of departure tax refund services, expand the coverage of departure tax refund policies for overseas tourists, and encourage more businesses to become tax refund shops, further enriching the variety of goods available in tax refund shops.

Harnessing the Role of Tourism Trade Carriers

Support domestic cultural and tourism enterprises and institutions in participating in various international cultural and tourism exhibitions. Encourage the hosting of market-oriented tourism exhibitions to attract foreign cultural and tourism enterprises to participate in exhibitions and conferences in China. Build a number of high-quality cultural trade bases for foreign cultural and tourism enterprises to invest and cooperate in China, providing service guarantees.

Source : https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/content/202309/content_6907051.htm

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