In early April, Belgian tourists who used the visa free policy to travel to China tasted snacks in Houhai, Beijing. Photo by Vincent Worm

According to the latest data released by the Immigration Administration of the People's Republic of China on April 18, the number of foreigners coming to China in the first quarter of this year more than tripled compared with the same period in 2023, with 466000 person times of foreigners' visa certificates issued, up 118.8% year on year, and 1988000 person times of visa free foreigners, up 266.1% year on year.

For some time, China has continuously launched a number of visa optimization measures in China, including reducing the content of visa application forms, reducing visa fees in stages, simplifying the examination and approval procedures for studying in China, exempting some applicants' fingerprints, visa free appointments, and piloting visa free policies for some * *, which have provided more convenience for foreigners to travel, work, study, and live in China and are widely welcomed by the * * society. The continuous expansion of China's visa free "circle of friends" demonstrates China's confidence in promoting high-level opening-up and strengthening * * exchanges and cooperation, and the positive effects of policies continue to emerge.

Multiple travel groups to China are currently being planned

According to the China Immigration Administration, on July 26, 2023, China will resume the 15 day visa free entry policy for Singapore and Brunei residents holding ordinary passports who come to China for business, tourism, visiting relatives and friends, and transit. On December 1, 2023 and March 14, 2024, China implemented a unilateral visa free policy for individuals holding ordinary passports from six countries including France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Malaysia, as well as six countries including Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, and Luxembourg. On March 1, 2024, the China Thailand Mutual Visa Exemption Agreement officially came into effect. As of now, a total of 989000 foreign nationals have entered China without a visa, accounting for over 60% of the total number of people coming to China, showing an overall upward trend.

When the reporter met Laszlo, a citizen of Budapest, Hungary, he was consulting a local travel agency for information about traveling to China. I plan to take my family on a trip to China this summer, and I really want to visit Sanya and Zhangjiajie. I have seen the beautiful scenery of Zhangjiajie in a video before, and I feel it is too spectacular! "Laszlo told reporters that he had already wanted to travel to China before, and his enthusiasm was even higher after the visa free policy was introduced. Andrea, a staff member of the travel agency, told reporters that there have been more and more customers inquiring about traveling to China recently, and China has become one of the popular tourist destinations.

Van Shane Worm, the head of the Belgian Dawn Travel Agency, is currently busy organizing a tour group to China. After learning that Belgium had been granted visa free treatment, we immediately began planning our travel plans and itinerary to China. The registration for * * groups went smoothly. On March 31st, 14 tourists from the travel agency took a flight from Brussels to Beijing. The tour group to China fully utilized the 15 day visa free period and visited Beijing, Guizhou, and Guangxi. Tourists were able to experience the local customs and traditions up close, perceive the charm of Chinese traditional culture and urban scenery, "Van Shane Worm told reporters. After the * * tour groups returned to Belgium, the * * tour groups will also depart soon. In the future, we are planning multiple tours to China, and many Belgians want to personally visit and see China

The implementation of the mutual visa exemption agreement has also increased the willingness of tourists from China and Thailand to travel. According to Ctrip data, on the day the agreement came into effect, Thai tourism orders to China surged threefold year-on-year, with an increase of over 160% compared to 2019. The keyword search popularity of Chinese cities has increased by more than three times year-on-year and by over 10% month on month. Thai Prime Minister Saita stated that many Thai people choose to travel to China, and flights are fully booked, further promoting exchanges between the two countries.

Sheng Weiqiang, Deputy General Manager of Sichuan China Travel Service Co., Ltd., introduced that since the beginning of this year, the company has received more than 600 tourists from Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand, a year-on-year increase of more than double. "They mainly go to Chengdu, Jiuzhaigou Valley Scenic and Historic Interest Area, Huanglong, Mount Emei and other * * attractions. The western Sichuan line and the Sichuan Tibet line are very popular with tourists from Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand. Thai tourists also like Sichuan hot pot, and we have specially added food experience activities in our itinerary."

More convenient expansion of partners and business networks

The visa free policy is widely welcomed by foreign business people who hope to expand into the Chinese market. Veronica Emmenag, founder of a Swiss medical beauty institution, said, "China is an important market for us, and I am very much looking forward to visiting China again with the visa free policy to understand the possibility of future cooperation. My preliminary plan is to attend the * * Health Industry Expo in Hainan in November. The visa free policy makes my travel easier

Belgian China Economic and Trade Commission Chairman De Witt told reporters, "I have noticed that China has implemented five measures to facilitate the entry of foreign personnel into China, actively solving the problems of mobile payments encountered by foreign personnel in China, and is committed to providing a safer, more comfortable, and convenient travel environment for foreign friends. This will further promote the exchange of people between China and foreign countries." Isanne Leclery, a staff member of the Brussels Airport Press Office, told reporters that in addition to the current direct flights to Beijing and Shenzhen, the Brussels direct flight to Shanghai will also resume soon. This will undoubtedly provide more convenience for Belgian tourists to travel to China

Hungarian Foreign Minister Szijjardo recently stated that China's pilot visa free policy is good news for Hungarian tourists and business people traveling to China. In accordance with the principle of reciprocity, the Hungarian government issues long-term visas to Chinese corporate executives who engage in investment cooperation in Hungary. Szijjardo emphasized that these measures will further enhance economic, tourism cooperation, and cultural exchanges between Hungary and China. It is reported that starting from April, there will be up to 13 flights per week between Budapest and four cities in China: Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing, and Ningbo.

As of 2023, China has been Malaysia's largest trading partner for 15 consecutive years, with close economic and trade cooperation between the two countries. Yan Tianlu, Vice President of the Malaysia China Public Relations Association, told reporters, "The visa free policy provides more opportunities for Malaysian small and medium-sized enterprises and entrepreneurs to exchange and cooperate in China. They can participate in various trade exhibitions and negotiation activities more flexibly, expand their partners and business networks more conveniently, and promote the diversified development of the Malaysian economy