China, in a move to boost tourism and ease travel, announced visa-free entry to citizens from nine additional countries — South Korea, Norway, Finland, Slovakia, Denmark, Iceland, Andorra, Monaco, and Liechtenstein. The new policy is set to take effect on November 8. Under this new visa policy, nationals of these countries will be allowed entry in China for business, tourism, family visits, or transit for up to 15 days without a visa. If reports are to go by, the visa exemption program will remain in place through December 31, 2025.
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The country has seen tremendous recovery in terms of international travel. If reports are to go by, China, in the third quarter of this year alone, received 8.186 inbound foreign travellers, marking a significant 48.8 percent increase compared to the same period last year. Reports also suggest that around 4.9 million travellers who visited China, entered through the already existing visa-free programme.Alongwith the expanded visa-free entry, there are additional measures put in place in order to streamline entry for foreigners. Measures such as reduced wait times for inspections, and the option for travellers to use overseas bank cards for subway fares, are going to make travel a lot easier when in China. By doing so, China will be making local transportation a lot more accessible to international travellers.
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The foreign ministry announced last month that it would continue optimising travel policies to make it easier for foreigners to visit and stay in the country. With the holiday season around the corner and an increasing interest in China as a travel destination, the expanded visa-free access is expected to encourage even more visitors in the coming years.
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What is visa-free travel?
If travellers can simply book their flight, pack their bags, and head off internationally without the hassle of paperwork, long wait times for permits, or additional expenses, international travel becomes far more appealing. Visa-free entry makes it much easier to plan spontaneous international trips, which isn’t possible when lengthy visa processing is involved.