China's open visa policy has ignited the passion for discovery in the hearts of global tourists, especially during the recent Lunar New Year, creating an unprecedented travel "fever". Instead of "struggling" with cumbersome procedures and "long" waiting times, international tourists can now "leisurely" set foot in the country of a billion people, admiring with their own eyes majestic wonders such as the Great Wall winding between the mountains, the majestic Forbidden City.
During the recent Lunar New Year, China witnessed an unprecedented tourism boom, with the number of tourists skyrocketing compared to the previous year. According to statistics from the Chinese Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the number of travel bookings increased by 203% compared to the same period last year. An impressive number, showing the strong attraction of this country of a billion people to tourists around the world.
China's open visa policy has created a "fever" for tourism during the recent Lunar New Year.
This spectacular growth is largely due to China's visa-free policy, which is being actively expanded. Instead of having to go through complicated and expensive visa procedures, tourists from many countries can now easily come to China, explore famous landscapes, learn about ancient culture and enjoy unique cuisine.
Meanwhile, Subramania Bhatt, CEO of China Desk Travel Marketing Company, shared a remarkable piece of information: the number of bookings from international travelers, who do not hold Chinese passports, for holidays in 2025 has skyrocketed 70% compared to 2024. This shows the special interest of international travelers in China, and predicts a prosperous 2025 for the tourism industry of this billion-people country.
Mr. Bhatt also revealed that during the recent Lunar New Year holiday, the top five countries with the highest number of tourists to China included South Korea, the United States, Australia, Malaysia and Canada. These are China's key tourism markets, and the strong growth from these countries shows the effectiveness of China's tourism attraction policies.
Instead of cumbersome procedures and long waiting times, tourists from many countries around the world can now easily come to the country of a billion people.
Shanghai is China’s busiest gateway for international tourists, and some spots in the city have had to turn away customers because of the overflow. Max Modesti, who sells Italian-style gelato in a popular shopping district in Shanghai, said his shop was “besieged” during the week of the Lunar New Year holiday. “We had to turn away some customers because there weren’t enough tables and chairs,” Modesti said.
This impressive growth is not only the result of a liberal visa policy but also a testament to the attractiveness of Chinese tourism. With its long-standing culture, diverse natural landscapes and rich cuisine, China has always been an attractive destination for tourists around the world.
The growing interest of international tourists in China not only brings economic benefits to the tourism industry, but also contributes to promoting cultural exchanges between China and other countries. Tourists come to China not only to sightsee, but also to learn about the history, culture and people of this place, thereby enhancing understanding and connection between countries.
China's "generous" visa exemption policy is being assessed by analysts as a key factor, playing an important role in "attracting" international tourists to this country of a billion people. Like a giant magnet, this policy has created a "fever" of tourism, attracting millions of tourists from all over the world.
It is these policies that create momentum for the development of this country of a billion people.
Up to now, China has "opened" tourism, exempting tourist visas for up to 30 days for citizens from 38 countries. This is a strong move by the Chinese government, demonstrating its determination to stimulate the tourism industry and revive the economy which is facing many challenges.
Data from Qunar, another Chinese travel platform, shows that Chinese tourists have traveled to more than 2,100 overseas cities, a 50% increase from 2024. Statistics from Trip.com, a Chinese online travel platform, show that this year's overseas accommodation, car rental and tourist attraction ticket bookings are up 70% compared with the 2024 holiday, Xinhua reported.
This impressive tourism growth is expected to continue to be an important driving force to promote China's tourism industry to develop even more strongly in the future, contributing significantly to the country's economic and social development.
