China’s Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, announced that citizens from Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, and Luxembourg will enjoy a visa-free policy for business, tourism, family visits, or transit for up to 15 days. The policy, effective from March 14 to November 30, 2024, aims to boost inbound tourism and is an extension of last year’s visa exemptions for countries such as France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Malaysia. This move is expected to positively impact various industries in the Chinese market, including accommodation, dining, shopping, and entertainment. Wang Yi expressed hope for more countries to reciprocate, contributing to an efficient international tourism system. The announcement has already generated increased interest in flights on Chinese travel booking platforms like Trip.com.
Source – CGTN