China cuts visa fees for travellers from many countries to boost economy post-Covid slump

Aiming to boost the economy post-Covid slump, China on Friday cut visa fees for travellers from countries including Thailand, Japan, Mexico, Vietnam, and the Philippines from December 11 this year to December 31, 2024, according to Chinese embassy statements. The move is considered the latest in a slew of measures China has recently taken to boost its economy, including boosting inbound travel from foreign tourists and business people. Last month, China announced to temporarily exempt citizens of France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Malaysia from needing visas to visit the world’s second-largest economy to boost post-pandemic tourism. From Dec. 1 to Nov. 30 next year, citizens of those countries entering China for business, tourism, visiting relatives and friends, or transiting for no more than 15 days, will not need a visa, a foreign ministry spokesperson had said. China has been taking steps in recent months - including restoring international flight routes - to revive its tourism sector following three years of strict COVID-19 measures that largely shut its borders to the outside world. The government is also looking to re-establish its image around the world after clashing with many Western countries on various issues including COVID, human rights, Taiwan and trade. In October this year, China expanded its visa-free transit policy to 54 countries to include citizens of Norway. In August, China scrapped all COVID test requirements for inbound travellers. It resumed 15-day visa-free entry for citizens of Singapore and Brunei in July. While recovering more slowly than services on the domestic network, international flights in and out of the country have been picking up. China’s aviation authority said in October that 16,680 weekly flights were expected from November through March, with passenger flights expected to reach 71% of the total four years ago. With inputs from agencies.