Ordinary passport holders from France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Malaysia can now enjoy visa-free travel to China for up to 15 days under a visa-free entry policy that took effect on Friday.
The policy, with a trial period from 1 December 2023 to 30 November 2024, has been widely hailed as a boost for China’s inbound tourism and a bridge for people-to-people exchanges, especially as more Europeans plan to travel to this exotic country. It also marks a tangible step by China in pushing for high-level opening-up.
“This is indeed a very good policy. I hope this policy can encourage tourists to travel to China again” after the difficult period of the COVID-19 pandemic, a French art consultant, who only gave his name as Jean-Pierre, told Xinhua.
The 72-year-old professional first heard the news from his Chinese friends. Before the pandemic, he often travelled to China, visiting cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Harbin and Jinhua. Impressed by the hospitality of the people and the good travel experiences he had there, he hopes to “visit these cities again as soon as conditions permit”.
A French musician surnamed Fabien told Xinhua that the policy came just in time as he was planning to go to Beijing to deepen his knowledge of Beijing Opera and also to Southwest China’s Yunnan Province for tourism.
“It’s much easier to organise a trip on the spur of the moment or if the opportunity arises over a week or two,” he said. “I can’t wait to go back and learn what I needed to learn there and also improve my Chinese.”
For 69-year-old French retiree Irene, the new policy is prompting her to make another trip to China soon. Recalling her last visit to China, Irene expressed her hope to visit more provincial capitals and take the express train between different cities. “China is a really attractive country for us here in France.”
Italian resident Sebastiano Brusco told Xinhua that he has a visit to China on his agenda, and this “good” and “necessary” policy helps people “visit China very easily”.
Commenting on the new policy, Veronica Carrara in Rome told Xinhua that it was long-awaited good news.
“China is a beautiful country with a long history. They still have what came from ancient times and they don’t forget their origins,” she said. “That’s why people should be able to visit China to learn from the Chinese how to carry on the tradition.”
“China has different aspects that attract me, both its urban and rural landscapes and its political life. Travelling to China is an opportunity to experience and observe first hand. And now, with the visa waiver, it’s even more accessible,” a fourth-year student surnamed Jan told Xinhua in Berlin.
A chance to see the real China
Since the beginning of the year, both inbound and outbound Chinese travel has increased. According to Trip.com, long-haul inbound travel, particularly from Europe, surpassed pre-pandemic levels in the first ten months of 2023. The day after the new visa-free policy was announced, visits to Trip.com’s “China Travel Guide” website increased by more than 30 per cent.
More and more people are interested in getting to know China, and what better way than to see it for themselves.
“China has always been a focus for us and a country that is always in our internationalisation plans, because it’s not only a country with great potential, because it’s ahead of us in some technologies, but also a country where our companies need to be present,” said Josep Maria Gomes, International Business Developer at the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce in Spain.
“Tourism is also necessary to reveal a reality,” he said. “Travelling and visiting China can help to dispel these stereotypes, which very often are not true.”
According to Luigi Gambardella, president of ChinaEU, a business-led international digital association in Brussels, the visa waiver for travellers from major European economies will also make it easier for managers of small and medium-sized enterprises to travel to China for business, exhibitions, etc., which will also boost confidence in investing in China.
“People need first-hand experience to have a real understanding of another country and culture. Many people’s visits to China have changed their stereotypes about China,” said Gambardella.
The visa-free policy is an important step towards global cooperation and understanding. “Such an extension would not only benefit a larger group of travellers, but also mark a significant step towards a more inclusive and cooperative international community,” the business leader added.
Many believe that the visa waiver policy offers more flexibility and freedom, allowing travellers to explore and experience at their leisure without having to plan visas in advance, and allowing business people and employees to make last-minute trips for meetings, conferences and negotiations without the hassle of going through consulates.
According to China’s National Immigration Bureau, 2,029 people from France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Malaysia entered China without visas on Friday, the first day of the visa-free policy. The number of arrivals from these six countries increased by more than 12 per cent from the previous day.
“China is such a beautiful and diverse country. However, Westerners only know the typical cities like Beijing, Shanghai and Xi’an,” Gambardella noted, adding that there are so many beautiful Chinese cities worth visiting and waiting to be explored by an influx of international guests.
