Between December 11, 2023, and December 31, 2024, China implemented a significant reduction in visa fees, decreasing them by 25% for travelers from several countries, including Thailand, Japan, Mexico, Vietnam, and the Philippines. This decision is a strategic part of China's broader economic revitalization plan, aimed at attracting more international tourists and business professionals.

According to VisaGuide.World, this reduction in visa fees aligns with China's ongoing efforts to boost its economy, particularly through the enhancement of inbound travel. Local media outlets highlight that this measure is among a series of recent initiatives by China to encourage more foreign visitors and businesspeople to enter the country, especially as it navigates a gradual economic recovery.

In a notable development, China announced plans to offer visa-free entry to ordinary passport holders from several European countries, including France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Malaysia. This visa-free policy, effective from December 1, 2023, to November 30, 2024, is part of a year-long trial. It allows citizens from these countries to enter China without a visa for up to 15 days for various activities such as business, tourism, family visits, and transit.

To further rejuvenate its tourism sector, which has been impacted by stringent COVID-19 measures over the past three years, China has taken various steps. These include restoring international flight routes and expanding its visa-free transit policy to 54 countries, with Norway being the latest addition. In August, a significant decision was made to lift the ban on tours to over 70 locations, leading to a noticeable increase in travel and airline stocks across Asia.

The Chinese Culture and Tourism Ministry has also resumed group tours to various destinations in regions like Asia-Pacific, Europe, Africa, and North America. Key destinations in Asia-Pacific include Japan, Australia, and South Korea, while the list also features countries such as Qatar, Lebanon, Oman, the UK, Finland, Germany, Sweden, and Israel.

Economically, China's travel and tourism sector is poised to contribute an impressive US$1.48 trillion to the national economy by the end of 2023. This represents a growth of over 150% compared to 2022's contribution of 583 billion dollars. The World Travel & Tourism Council's (WTTC) previous analysis predicts that the sector will add a remarkable 4 trillion dollars to China's economy, growing at a rate almost double the global compound annual growth rate (CAGR).