China is expecting a significant New Year tourism surge in 2025 with relaxed immigration rules. Learn about the new visa-free policies, expected travel numbers, and more!
China Sees New Year Tourism Surge with Relaxed Immigration Rules
As China’s immigration policies continue to evolve, a surge in tourism is expected for the 2025 New Year holiday. With newly relaxed visa regulations, the country is poised to attract international travelers in significant numbers. According to the National Immigration Administration, the expected daily flow of inbound and outbound travelers is set to reach 2.05 million during the holiday period, marking an 18.8% increase compared to last year. This surge reflects China’s growing appeal as a travel destination.
The busiest travel days are projected to be December 31, 2024, and January 1, 2025, when international airports in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Chengdu are expected to handle nearly 200,000 passengers each day.
China’s Relaxed Immigration Rules and Increased Visa-Free Options
In a move to simplify travel and boost tourism, China has introduced a significant update to its visa-free transit policy. This revision extends the allowable stay for eligible travelers from 72 and 144 hours to 240 hours—a full 10 days. The updated policy allows travelers from 54 eligible countries to transit through China without needing a visa, as long as they are en route to a third destination. Travelers can enter China through any of the 60 approved ports located in 24 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities, with a stay limited to designated areas.
Expanding Visa-Free Access for Global Travelers
This new change is part of China’s broader effort to improve its accessibility to international visitors. Along with the updated visa-free transit policy, China has signed full mutual visa exemption agreements with 26 countries. Additionally, 38 nations now enjoy unilateral visa-free access to China.
Increased International Visitor Numbers for China
The shift in immigration rules is already showing results. Between December 17 and 24, 2024, nearly 1,000 foreigners were granted 240-hour temporary entry permits. Among the most frequent travelers were visitors from Russia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Sweden, and Canada.
Following the expansion of China’s visa-free policy to include travelers from South Korea and Japan, Shanghai recorded 11,000 passenger flights between these countries. During this period, over 363,000 tourists from South Korea and Japan arrived, marking an over 20% increase compared to the same period in September and October 2024.
Hainan Island: A Top Visa-Free Destination in China
Hainan, China’s southern tropical island province, continues to be one of the country’s most favorable destinations for visa-free entry. In 2024 alone, over 350,000 international tourists have visited Hainan, a threefold increase from the previous year. These visitors accounted for 85% of all foreign arrivals to the island, underscoring Hainan’s importance as a leading tourist hotspot in China.
Yunnan Province and the China-Laos Railway Growth
In southwestern China, the Mohan railway port in Yunnan Province has witnessed significant growth. The port, located along the newly established China-Laos Railway, has seen over 33,000 foreign visitors in 2024, a 99.5% increase compared to the previous year. Remarkably, 9,500 of these visitors entered visa-free, reflecting a tenfold growth from 2023.
Impressive Growth in Inbound Foreign Visits to China in 2024
From January to November 2024, China recorded approximately 29.22 million inbound foreign visits, a 86.2% increase from the previous year. Of these, 17.45 million visits were visa-free, demonstrating an impressive 123.3% year-on-year growth in visa-free entries.
China Poised for Major Tourism Surge in 2025
As China enters the 2025 New Year, the country’s relaxed immigration policies and expanded visa-free transit options are set to drive a tourism surge. With increased traveler numbers, especially from countries like South Korea, Japan, and Russia, China is positioning itself as a top destination for international visitors. As the travel industry rebounds, these updates will likely continue to shape China’s tourism landscape for years to come.
