China starts visa-free entry for certain nationalities
This is in line with China's recent efforts to boost its tourism sector
Beijing: China will temporarily exempt citizens from France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Malaysia from needing visas when visiting the world's second-largest economy in a fresh move to spur post-pandemic tourism.
From December 1 this year to November 30, 2024, citizens from those countries entering China for business, tourism, sightseeing, visiting relatives and friends, or transiting for no more than 15 days will not need a visa, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Friday.
China has been taking steps in recent months - including restoration of international flight routes - to boost its tourism sector following three years of strict COVID-19 measures.
Earlier this month, China expanded its visa-free transit policy to 54 countries to include citizens from Norway.
In August, Beijing scrapped all COVID-19 test requirement for inbound travellers. It also resumed 15-day visa-free entry for citizens of Singapore and Brunei in July.
International flights in and out the country, while recovering slower than domestic ones, have been picking up pace.
China's aviation regulation said in October that there will be 16,680 weekly flights in the five months following, with passenger flights expected to reach 71 per cent of the total four years ago.