Shanghai CIIE to Pilot ‘E-Port Visa’ and Dedicated Border Channels for Foreign Exhibitors
Algiers–Guangzhou Non-Stop Service Takes Off, Building New Africa–China Air Bridge
China Eastern Unveils Winter-Spring Schedule—197 International Routes and Record-Breaking Shanghai–Buenos Aires Service
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China Grants Visa-Free Entry to Citizens of 43 Countries in Bid to Revive Inbound Travel
China added 43 countries to its unilateral 30-day visa-free scheme on 27 October, covering much of Europe, the Asia-Pacific and Latin America. The policy aims to jump-start inbound tourism and simplify short-term business travel, and has already spurred airlines and online agencies to boost capacity and marketing.
India–China Direct Flights Resume After Five-Year Hiatus
IndiGo’s Kolkata–Guangzhou service landed on 27 October, marking the first direct India–China flight since 2020. The restart shortens travel times for business travellers, students and cargo, and signals tentative thawing of bilateral ties. Additional routes are planned for November, and regulators are discussing broader capacity expansion.
240-Hour Transit Waiver Drives Double-Digit Growth in Foreign Arrivals
Figures published on 27 October show nearly 9 million travellers have used China’s 240-hour visa-free transit since December 2024, a 35 % increase year-on-year. The generous stop-over window is boosting hotel, airline and tour-operator revenues and strengthening China’s position as a trans-continental hub.
Shenzhen Records 160 % Jump in Visa-Free Arrivals as Greater Bay Integration Gains Pace
New immigration data released on 27 October show visa-free arrivals to Shenzhen up 160 % this year, highlighting the impact of China’s relaxed entry rules and the pull of the Greater Bay Area. The boom is boosting hotel occupancy, retail sales and cross-border business ties, prompting authorities to pilot a dedicated GBA traveller card.
China’s Visa-Free Push Lifts 2024 Cross-Border Movements to 610 Million
China processed 610 million border crossings in 2024, a 44 % rebound fuelled by visa-free policies and digitalised immigration systems, according to figures released on 27 October. The uptick reflects China’s strategy of using mobility liberalisation to drive tourism, trade and Belt and Road engagement.