More unilateral visa-free countries to come, says China government

On February 19, the General Office of the State Council released a plan proposing to promote the facilitation of personnel exchanges, accelerate the negotiation of mutual visa exemption agreements, and continue to steadily expand the scope of unilateral visa-free countries entering China. It also aims to optimize port visas, transit visa exemptions, and regional entry visa exemption policies to promote cross-border movement of people.

First Chinese Tourist Group in 5 Years to Visit North Korea

On February 18, Reference News cited a report from Hong Kong Radio, stating that Chinese travel agency Zhixing Heyi has received special approval from North Korea to organize the first Chinese civilian tourist group in five years. The group is scheduled to travel to North Korea on February 24 to conduct a tourism inspection in the city of Rason. The initial group will consist of 15 people, with a 4-day, 3-night itinerary. They will visit Rason, a special economic zone located on the border between China and Russia. The area does not have an international airport, so the group will travel by car from Hunchun City in Jilin Province. The travel agency's staff have already entered Rason to assess hotel accommodations.

980,300 Mainland Chinese Tourists Visit Japan in January

According to estimates released by the Japan National Tourism Organization on February 19, the number of foreign tourists visiting Japan in January reached 3.78 million, setting a new record for the highest monthly figure. This was an increase of more than one million visitors compared to January of the previous year, driven by higher demand during the Chinese New Year and winter sports season. Among the countries and regions, Mainland China recorded the largest number of visitors, with 980,300 people.

Beijing to Offer Special Visas and Customs Clearance Convenience for Eligible Foreign Business Personnel

Recently, at a policy briefing by the Beijing Municipal Foreign Affairs Office, it was announced that Beijing will provide special visa convenience for eligible foreign business people visiting the city, and will coordinate with Beijing's border inspection authorities to facilitate customs clearance. The target group for this policy includes: foreign business personnel frequently visiting Beijing for commercial trade activities and playing an active role, invited by eligible registered companies in Beijing, as well as their spouses and children. After the company submits an application, the municipal government’s foreign affairs office will issue a special invitation letter valid for 5 years, allowing multiple entries and a stay of up to 180 days. Based on this, Chinese embassies abroad will issue an M-visa or corresponding category visa with the same validity. Applicants are exempt from fingerprint collection, can authorize others to handle the visa application, and only need to pay for a multiple-entry visa valid for one year. Additionally, Beijing’s border inspection authorities will provide fast-track customs clearance for foreign business personnel arriving and departing from Beijing Capital International Airport and Daxing International Airport.

China Youth Travel Service’s Aoyou Travel App Fully Integrates Deepseek Large Model

Recently, with the surge in popularity of Deepseek, AI capabilities have swept across various industries, triggering a comprehensive revolution in business models. Aoyou Travel, part of China Youth Travel Service, is the first to integrate Deepseek’s large model into its service platforms, including the Aoyou Travel App, WeChat mini-program, and official WeChat account. This integration of AI big data algorithms with travel services ushers in a new "AI+Travel" experience.

Swiss Transportation Authorities Team Up with Klook for Shenzhen Promotional Event

On February 20, tourism companies in Shenzhen's Futian district, along with Klook and the Swiss transportation agencies, held the "Wake Up to Switzerland by Train" theme event in Shenzhen. This event aimed to lead Chinese travelers to deeply explore Switzerland’s breathtaking natural scenery and rich cultural heritage through unique train travel experiences.

Sichuan Airlines to Launch Chengdu-Madrid Direct Flight on April 27

Sichuan Airlines will launch a direct flight from Chengdu to Madrid on April 27, 2025, operating four times a week (Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays), with a flight duration of 13 hours and 10 minutes.

Dubai Welcomes Over 820,000 Chinese Tourists in 2024

Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism recently reported that the city hosted 18.72 million international tourists in 2024, a 9% increase compared to the previous year, setting a new record. Among these, 824,000 were Chinese tourists, marking a 31% year-on-year increase. This surge is attributed to the success of Dubai's "Welcome China" strategy, which has had a significant impact on attracting Chinese visitors.

New Zealand Tourism Industry Seeks Policy Solutions to Attract Chinese Tourists

In an effort to boost the number of Chinese tourists, the New Zealand government is working on solutions to address the delay in tourist visa processing. According to a report by the New Zealand Herald on February 12, Immigration Minister Stanford announced plans to propose measures to Prime Minister Larkson to encourage the return of Chinese tourists to New Zealand. Stanford acknowledged that the government had “performed poorly” in this regard, pointing out that the current processing time for tourist visas for Chinese visitors typically takes up to 8 days.