China sees visa free tourism surge

China’s inbound tourism has recorded a strong revival, backed by a clear vote of confidence from international travellers. Data released on January 18 by the Ministry of Public Security shows that 829,000 foreign nationals entered mainland China during the three-day New Year holiday, reflecting a sharp rebound in cross-border movement.
Of these arrivals, nearly 292,000 travellers used China’s expanding visa-free or transit-without-visa schemes, marking a year-on-year jump of 35.8 per cent. This surge provides the first concrete evidence that China’s decision to extend 15- and 30-day unilateral visa waivers to more than 45 countries, along with expanding the 240-hour transit visa-free programme to 65 ports, is delivering results.
Travel demand is no longer limited to major gateways alone. Online travel agency Qunar reported bookings by non-Chinese passport holders to 97 mainland cities, indicating rising interest in secondary destinations such as Chengdu, Xi’an and Guilin. These cities are successfully attracting visitors by combining cultural experiences with practical support such as digital payment guidance.
To support the growing influx, airports across China have upgraded facilities with multilingual signage, international card payment terminals and AI-powered chatbots. These tools assist travellers with health declarations, transport access and mobile applications, easing the arrival process and improving the overall visitor experience.
The revival is also welcomed by multinational companies, as simplified entry procedures reduce friction for short-notice business travel. However, mobility managers continue to caution travellers that visa-free entry does not permit paid work, and overstaying can attract fines of up to RMB 10,000.
Looking ahead, tourism economists expect the rebound to accelerate further. Ctrip Research forecasts 38 million foreign visitors in 2026—around 60 per cent of pre-pandemic levels—supporting airline route expansion and China’s broader push towards services-led growth, with carriers already announcing additional international frequencies for the upcoming travel seasons.