BRUSSELS, Dec 5 (NNN-XINHUA) – Under a visa-free entry policy, effective from Friday, ordinary passport holders from France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Malaysia, are now able to enjoy visa-free travel to China for up to 15 days.
The policy, with a trial period from Dec 1, this year to Nov 30, next year, was widely viewed as a boost to inbound tourism for China, and a bridge for people-to-people exchanges, particularly with more Europeans planning their trip to this exotic country. It also marks a tangible move by China in pushing for high-level opening-up.
“This is indeed a very good policy. I hope that, this policy can encourage tourists to travel to China again” after the difficult period of the COVID-19 pandemic, a French arts consultant, who only gave his name as Jean-Pierre, told Xinhua.
The 72-year-old professional heard the news from his Chinese friends first. Prior to the pandemic, he made frequent trips to China, visiting such cities as Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Harbin, and Jinhua. Impressed by the hospitality of the people and nice travel experience there, he hopes to “revisit these cities as soon as conditions permit.”
A French musician by the name of Fabien told Xinhua that the policy came out just in time, as he was planning to go to Beijing to further his learning of Peking Opera, and also to south-west China’s Yunnan Province for tourism.
“It’s much easier to organise a trip on the spur of the moment, or if the opportunity arises over a week or two,” he said. “I can’t wait to go back and learn what I needed to learn there and improve my Chinese too.”
For 69-year-old French pensioner by the name of Irene, the new policy prods her to make another journey to China soon. Recalling her last visit to China, Irene voiced hope of visiting more provincial capitals and taking the express train between different cities. “China is a really attractive country for us here in France.”
Italian resident Sebastiano Brusco told Xinhua that, he has a China visit on his agenda, and this “good” and “necessary” policy helps people “visit China very easily.”
Commenting on the new policy, Veronica Carrara in Rome told Xinhua that it is long-awaited good news.
“China is a beautiful country with a long history. You still have what came from the ancient times, and you don’t forget the origins,” she said. “That’s why people should be able to visit China to learn from the Chinese how tradition is carried on.”
Since the beginning of this year, Chinese inbound and outbound travel have both increased. According to Trip.com, in the first ten months of this year, long-haul inbound travel, particularly from Europe, surpassed pre-pandemic levels. One day after the new visa-free measure was announced, visits to Trip.com’s “China Travel Guide” Web page have surged by over 30 percent.
An increasing number of people are interested in knowing China and there is no better way than seeing the country with their own eyes.
“China has always been a focus for us and a country that’s always in our internationalisation plans, because it’s not only a country with great potential, as in some technologies it’s ahead of us, but a country where our companies must seek presence,” said Josep Maria Gomes, an international business developer with the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce in Spain.
“Tourism is also necessary to reveal a reality,” he said. “Travel and visiting China can help dispel those cliches that very often are not true.”
In the view of Luigi Gambardella, president of ChinaEU, a business-led international digital association in Brussels, the visa exemption for travellers from the major European economies will also facilitate managers of small- and medium-sized enterprises to travel to China for business, exhibitions, and so on, which will also enhance confidence in investing in China.
“People need to gain first-hand experience to have a real understanding of a different country and a different culture. Many people’s visits to China have changed their stereotypes of China,” said Gambardella.
The visa-free policy represents a significant step towards global collaboration and understanding. “Such an extension would not only benefit a larger cohort of travellers but also mark a significant stride towards a more inclusive and cooperative international community,” the business leader added.
According to China’s National Immigration Administration, 2,029 people from France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Malaysia, entered China without a visa last Friday, Day One of the visa-free policy. The number of arrivals from these six countries increased by over 12 percent from the previous day.
“China is such a beautiful country with great diversity. However, Westerners only know those typical cities like Beijing, Shanghai and Xi’an,” Gambardella noted, adding that, so many beautiful Chinese cities are worth visiting and are waiting to be explored by an inrush of international guests.– NNN-XINHUA
