China expands visa-free access to Japan, Bulgaria and other countries
Tourists pose for pictures at Mogao grottoes in Dunhuang, in Gansu province, China, Oct. 16, 2024. Photo by Reuters
China will expand its visa-free arrangements to include Japan, Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Montenegro and other countries, effective from Nov. 30, 2024, to Dec. 31, 2025, a foreign ministry spokesperson said on Friday.
It will also extend the visa-free stay period to 30 days from 15 days for citizens of all 38 countries within its visa-free program, state television CCTV reported.
China has previously granted visa-free arrangements for South Korea and some European countries to boost tourism and trade amid a sluggish economy.
China welcomed an estimated 95 million inbound tourists in the first nine months of this year, representing a 55.4% year-on-year increase, according to the Xinhua News Agency. This figure is equivalent to 93.4% of the inbound tourist numbers for the same period in 2019.
To further accommodate international visitors, the Chinese government has mandated that major tourist attractions accept a range of payment methods, including foreign bank cards, QR codes, and cash.
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