China grants visa-free access to more countries to boost tourism

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

CHINA IS OPENING UP VISA-FREE ACCESS TO MORE COUNTRIES IN AN EFFORT TO KICKSTART ITS STRUGGLING ECONOMY THROUGH TOURISM.

BEIJING ANNOUNCING FRIDAY IT WILL EXPAND THE VISA-FREE PROGRAM TO NINE COUNTRIES INCLUDING JAPAN AND MULTIPLE EUROPEAN COUNTRIES.

CHINA ALSO REVEALED IT’S EXTENDING THE POSSIBLE LENGTH OF STAY FROM 15 DAYS TO UP TO 30 DAYS.

THE NEW RULES GO INTO EFFECT ON NOVEMBER 30TH.

PREVIOUSLY, ONLY THREE COUNTRIES HAD VISA-FREE ACCESS… AND THEIR PRIVELEGES WERE RESCINDED DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

JAPAN WAS ONE OF THE THREE COUNTRIES WITH VISA-FREE ENTRY BEFORE THE PANDEMIC AND REPEATEDLY ASKED FOR AN EARLY WAIVER TO RESTART THE PROGRAM.

THE COUNTRIES HAVE SPARRED OVER ISSUES RANGING FROM TAIWANESE SOVEREIGNTY TO THE RELEASE OF RADIOACTIVE WATER INTO THE SEA FROM THE FUKISHIMA NUCLEAR PLANT.

TRAVEL AGENCIES ARE REPORTEDLY PREPARING FOR AN INFLUX OF TOURISTS AS THE END OF THE MONTH APPROACHES.

FROM JULY THROUGH SEPTEMBER THIS YEAR CHINA REPORTED MORE THAN EIGHT MILLION FOREIGNERS ENTERING THE COUNTRY.

OF THOSE, NEARLY FIVE MILLION WERE FROM VISA-FREE COUNTRIES.

WITH THE LATEST MOVE… 38 COUNTRIES NOW HAVE VISA-FREE ACCESS SINCE LAST YEAR.

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FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS– I’M LAUREN TAYLOR.