China's visa-free travel program grows to include more countries
When it came to dealing with the pandemic, few countries instituted restrictions and shutdowns as rigorously as China. One of the many repercussions that came with this was a shocking decrease in tourism, something the entire world has dealt with. Years later, travel has rebounded for the most part, with some areas seeing more tourists than ever. China, on the other hand, is still seeing much lower numbers of visitors than it did pre-pandemic.
Over the past few months, the Chinese government has instituted a visa scheme targeting several countries around the world, primarily in Europe. Citizens of these countries have been granted visa waivers by China, meaning tourists can enter the country and stay for up to 30 days without needing a visa of any kind. This visa program will run until the end of 2025, though there is always the potential for it to be extended if it is successful at driving tourism.
So far, China has granted this program to 38 countries, including Italy, Germany, France, and Spain. The program also applies to a few non-European countries such as Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, and Japan. It's worth noting that China had a similar program several years ago for residents from a more limited number of countries but suspended it due to the pandemic.
To date, residents of the United Kingdom as well as countries in Africa, South America, North America, and large parts of Asia are exempt from the plan. Continued success could lead to further expansion around the world. Until that time, residents of these regions will have to apply for the visa appropriate for their trip in the regular fashion. That being said, China is an incredible place to visit, so vacationing there is more than worth the effort, no matter how you legally get into the country.