During a regular press conference held on November 1, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian stated that, in order to further facilitate international exchanges, China has decided to expand the list of visa-free countries. Starting from November 8, 2024, ordinary passport holders from Slovakia, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Andorra, Monaco, Liechtenstein, and South Korea will be eligible for a pilot visa-free policy. Between now and December 31, 2025, ordinary passport holders from these nine countries can enter China visa-free for up to 15 days for business, tourism, family visits, or transit purposes.
South Africa simplifies “group visa” to attract Chinese and Indian tourists
Chinese and Indian tourists could potentially visit South Africa as early as January 2025 with a simplified "group visa." On October 28, South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs announced the implementation details for the "Trusted Travel Operators Scheme" (TTOS), which selects “trusted” travel agencies. Group visas submitted by these trusted agencies will benefit from simplified visa documentation and faster visa processing. At the same time, these agencies will be held responsible for any illegal actions committed by group members.
TTOS applications are now open, and travel agencies registered in China, India, or South Africa can apply online within the next 30 days.
Tongcheng Business Travel releases 2024 Q3 Corporate Travel Report
Recently, Tongcheng Business Travel released its 2024 Q3 Corporate Travel Report. Data from the platform showed that domestic business travel orders increased by 20.72% year-on-year and 5.6% quarter-on-quarter in Q3. This growth reflects the steady recovery of business travel over the past two years and an increasing demand from companies for professional TMC-based travel management. However, the growth rate in Q3 was lower than in previous quarters, indicating that demand for corporate travel is stabilizing and growth is slowing.
Destination travel platform Klook deepens AI collaboration with Google Cloud
Hong Kong unicorn travel platform Klook has partnered with Google Cloud to enhance their AI functionalities. Together, they have introduced a “Shopping Guide” feature that uses generative AI to improve travelers’ decision-making efficiency by highlighting distinctions between similar experiences.
Hainan Airlines to resume Beijing-Toronto route
For the 2024-2025 winter-spring season, Hainan Airlines will operate two direct routes between China and Canada: Shenzhen-Vancouver and Beijing-Toronto, with the Beijing-Toronto route serving as a key business link between the two countries.
Air Canada restores daily Beijing flights
Air Canada announced the resumption of daily flights to Beijing, along with an increase in Shanghai flights to one per day.
Shenzhen Airlines launches Shenzhen-Doha route
On October 29, Shenzhen Airlines inaugurated its Shenzhen to Doha return route, marking Shenzhen's first direct international route to Qatar. This new route is expected to strengthen economic and cultural ties between Shenzhen and the Middle East.
New Xi’an-Paris direct Route launched
On October 30, Xi’an launched a direct route to Paris with weekly return flights on Wednesdays. Operated by Hainan Airlines, this route is the second international line opened by Hainan from Xi’an, following the Xi’an-Tokyo (Narita) route.
Direct Shanghai-Belgrade route to launch
Serbia’s national airline announced a new direct route between Shanghai Pudong Airport and Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport, starting January 11, 2025.
MSC Cruises to launch Alaska route
MSC Cruises, the world’s third-largest cruise line, recently announced its first Alaska route, set to launch in summer 2026. Bookings are now open for this highly anticipated route, which will be served by MSC Poesia. Starting May 11, 2026, the cruise will depart weekly from Seattle, offering a seven-night journey through Alaska and Canada.
Chinese tourists’ overnight stays in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden more than double year-on-year
The 2024 Scandinavia Roadshow, hosted by VisitDenmark, VisitNorway, and Visit Sweden, recently took place in Beijing, Chengdu, and Shanghai. During the event, it was revealed that the total overnight stays by Chinese travelers in Scandinavia (Denmark, Norway, and Sweden) from January to August 2024 increased more than twofold compared to the same period last year. The roadshow brought together nearly 40 tourism suppliers from Scandinavia, representing destinations, airports, airlines, event product suppliers, museums, hotels, cruise lines, and tour operators.
Fiji Tourism Board unveils “Top 10 must-do experiences” for Chinese travelers
The Fiji Tourism Board, in collaboration with Fiji Airways, held its 2024 Winter Roadshow across Greater China, with the Beijing leg completed on October 29. The roadshow, involving around 30 Fijian partners and engaging over 300 Chinese travel agencies and 100 media partners, introduced the “Top 10 Must-Do Experiences” for Chinese travelers. This collection of experiences highlights Fiji’s unique offerings, setting it apart from other long-haul island destinations.
VisitBritain targets China’s high-net-worth travelers with filming location tourism
In partnership with Tourism Ireland and British Airways, VisitBritain recently hosted a trade seminar in Shanghai, showcasing premium tourism resources and attracting China's high-net-worth travelers. VisitBritain also announced the global launch of the "Starring GREAT Britain" campaign next year, which will focus on promoting British destinations featured in popular films.
Gold Coast CEO delegation visits China to strengthen tourism ties
The Experience Gold Coast executive delegation visited Guangzhou, Chengdu, Beijing, and Shanghai from October 21–24, meeting with key Chinese travel industry representatives. As China was the Gold Coast’s largest international visitor market before the pandemic, the destination aims to regain its pre-COVID appeal. In 2019, 299,000 Chinese visitors contributed AUD 422 million to the local economy, but by June 2024, only 57,000 Chinese visitors had returned, spending AUD 106 million.
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