Foreign arrivals to China rose sharply in the first quarter of 2026, driven by the country’s expanding visa-free policies and broader efforts to facilitate cross-border travel, the National Immigration Administration said.
China’s immigration authorities recorded 185 million entries and exits in the first quarter, up 13.5% year-on-year, China Daily reported.
Among them, foreign nationals accounted for about 21.33 million trips, up 22.3% from a year earlier.
Nearly 8.32 million foreign nationals entered China visa-free during the period, up 29.3% year-on-year, with visa-free entries accounting for 77.9% of all foreign arrivals.
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Tourists take a selfie at the Temple of Heaven in Beijing, China, on June 15, 2025. Photo by AP |
Last year, China extended its visa-free entry for 45 countries, many in Europe, South America and the Gulf region besides Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and South Korea, until the end of 2026, AP reported.
China, Asia’s largest economy, has also introduced measures to boost spending by international visitors.
The policy package calls on airlines to provide more discounted fares for connecting flights with extended layovers in China, Reuters reported.
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