3 hours ago
4
November 26, 2024 | 01:46 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - China continues to add new European countries to its visa-free list. There are eight additional new countries that have received visa-free access from China. Among them are Bulgaria, Romania, Malta, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Estonia, and Latvia.
As reported by Euronews, tourists from those countries, as well as Japan, can enter China visa-free from November 30, 2024, until December 31, 2025. Previously, passport holders from Andorra, Finland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Slovakia, and Norway were granted a 30-day visa-free stay in China.
Meanwhile, Cyprus, Denmark, Greece, Portugal, and Slovenia were given access in October. Much earlier in July, tourists from Poland, Australia, and New Zealand were also granted visa-free access to China until the end of 2025. In total, there are 38 European countries that have received visa-free access to China.
The visa-free program to China started in early 2024 and was announced gradually. This is aimed at encouraging more people to visit China for business and tourism purposes, and to promote exchanges between Chinese citizens and foreigners.
"The aim is to facilitate the development of high-quality Chinese and foreign personnel exchanges and a high degree of openness to the outside world," said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning.
Increased Interest of European Tourists
According to Trip.com data, China became the favorite destination of European tourists last year. The number of bookings from Europe to China increased by 663 percent compared to 2022, and nearly 29 percent compared to 2019. Especially tourists from the UK and Germany.
As for popular destinations in China among European tourists, Shanghai stands out. The city attracts tourists with its blend of modernity and tradition. Besides Shanghai, other favorite destinations include Beijing, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen.
Increase in Travel to China
Many people have been reluctant to vacation in China for almost three years due to strict pandemic prevention measures. Although these restrictions were no longer enforced at the beginning of last year, international visits have not returned to pre-pandemic levels.
In 2023, a total of 35.5 million foreigners entered and exited China, according to immigration statistics. This number is a decrease from 97.7 million in 2019, the last year before the pandemic. Meanwhile, from July to September this year, there were 8.2 million foreign visitors to China, 4.9 million of whom were visa-free, according to the official Xinhua News Agency citing consular officials from the Foreign Ministry.
China had allowed citizens of Brunei, Japan, and Singapore to enter without a visa. But the program was suspended after the Covid-19 outbreak. The country resumed visa-free entry for Brunei and Singapore in July but has not yet implemented it for Japan.
Editor's Choice: Indonesia Introduces Visa-Free Travel Policy for 13 Countries
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
8 Countries with No Income Tax, List of Tax-Free Places
18 jam lalu
Some countries in the world operate with no income tax since they have strong revenue sources. Discover countries with no income tax here.
Top 10 Countries with the Best Doctors in the World, India Included
21 jam lalu
Countries with the best doctors often have more accessible and efficient healthcare systems. Let's find out about them.
Taiwan Reports Sighting of Chinese Balloon, First Time in Six Months
21 jam lalu
Taiwan views the balloon as part of a pattern of harassment by Beijing.
President Prabowo Arrives in Indonesia After Working Visit to 6 Countries
2 hari lalu
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has returned to Indonesia after conducting a working visit to several countries since November 8, 2024.
Today's Top 3 News: 8 Best Cities to Visit in Indonesia, Gorgeous Alternatives to Bali
3 hari lalu
Here is the list of the top 3 news on Tempo English today.
7 Countries with No Minimum Wage, from Nordics to Singapore
3 hari lalu
Several countries, like Sweden and Singapore, rely on collective agreements to determine wages. Here are countries with no minimum wage.
Rice Production by Country 2023/2024, India Places 2nd
4 hari lalu
Dominated by Asian countries, this article explores the list of rice production by country with a total of 430 million metric tons in 2023/2024.
Studies Reveal Global Average Time Spent on Social Media
4 hari lalu
A study reveals the global average time spent on social media by its 5.17 billion users. Check out the complete data here.
Economists Find Unrecorded Garment Imports from China Worth Rp4.2tn
4 hari lalu
Economists uncovered a discrepancy in the recorded imports of garment and textile products from China to Indonesia between 2004 and June 2024.
U.S. Ambassador Responds to Indonesia-China Joint Development Plan
5 hari lalu
The U.S. Embassy responds to Indonesia-China's joint statement about the South China Sea.
