China's Efforts to Lure Back Foreign Travelers After Covid-19

Slow Return of Foreign Travelers

It has been a year since China reopened its borders, but despite loosening its stringent Covid-19 restrictions, foreign travelers have been slow to return to the country with numbers down more than 60% from pre-pandemic levels. China’s border authorities recorded 35.5 million entries and exits by foreign nationals in 2023, nearly seven times more than the number from 2022, when the country was deep in its three-year self-imposed Covid isolation. However, the 2023 figure is just 36% of the 97.7 million border entries and exits by foreign nationals recorded in 2019, suggesting a long road to full recovery, though momentum picked up toward the end of the year. More than half of the border crossings made by foreign travelers in 2023 were recorded in the last three months of the year, indicating a gradual improvement in the situation.

Tourists step on the Great Wall to watch sunrise on New Year's Day on January 1, 2024 in Beijing, China.

Meanwhile, the number of foreign nationals residing in China has rebounded to 85% of the level it was at the end of 2019, with Chinese authorities issuing a total of 711,000 residency permits of various types to foreign nationals living in the country in 2023. These statistics reflect the slow but steady progress in the return of foreign travelers and residents to China after the Covid-19 pandemic.

Efforts to Lure Back Foreign Tourists and Visitors

Amid the slow return of foreign travelers, Chinese authorities have made a flurry of attempts to lure back foreign tourists and visitors as part of their strategy to boost a sluggish economy. China has taken several measures to attract international travelers, including granting unilateral visa-free entry to citizens of Switzerland and Ireland, and offering visa-free treatments to European and Asian countries over the past months. In addition, a trial program to allow visitors from France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Malaysia to enter visa-free for 15 days was announced in November 2023, with positive results seen in December as 118,000 travelers from those six nations entered China without a visa under the new policy. These efforts reflect China's commitment to welcoming foreign tourists and visitors, aiming to revitalize consumption and business ties.

Furthermore, China has struck reciprocal agreements with countries like Thailand to permanently waive visa requirements for each other’s citizens, with plans to implement the agreement from March. The country has also simplified the visa application process for American tourists, making it easier for them to visit by removing certain requirements. These measures, along with the expansion of visa-free schemes and reciprocal agreements, illustrate China's proactive approach in luring back international travelers and strengthening global ties.

Measures to Facilitate International Travel

In addition to the visa-free treatments and reciprocal agreements, China has ramped up measures to make it easier for international travelers to visit the country. In the second half of 2023, China dropped all pre-entry Covid-19 test requirements for inbound passengers, offered business travelers the option to get visas on arrival, and exempted visitors from some countries from fingerprint collection. These initiatives aimed at simplifying the travel process and easing entry into China for foreign visitors.

Moreover, China's two biggest payment apps, WeChat and Alipay, have allowed visitors to link their foreign credit cards, enabling them to book taxis, ride the subway, and make payments across the near-cashless country. This move has further facilitated the experience of international travelers in China, making it more convenient and accessible for them to engage in daily activities without the hassle of currency exchanges or cash transactions.