英語新聞丨Visa-free policy to bring more foreign tourists

China decided last week to extend the short-stay visa-exemption policy for citizens of 12 countries, of which 11 are European nations, until the end of 2025. This extension underscores the prospects for China-Europe engagement in the years ahead and will bring a fresh wave of European tourists to China, analysts said.

中國上周決定將對12個國家(其中11個是歐洲國家)公民的短期免簽證政策延長至2025年底。分析人士表示，這一延期突顯了未來幾年中歐合作的前景，并將為中國帶來新一輪的歐洲游客。

China announced a visa-free policy for five European countries — France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain — from Dec 1 of last year to Nov 30 this year, with people from these countries allowed to stay on the mainland for up to 15 days for business, tourism, family trips or transit without a visa.

中國宣布，從2023年12月1日至2024年11月30日，對法國、德國、意大利、荷蘭和西班牙這五個歐洲國家實行免簽政策，這些國家的人可以在中國大陸停留最多15天，用于商務、旅游、家庭旅行或過境。

The visa-free policy was then extended to six more European countries: Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium and Luxembourg, from March 14 to Nov 30 to further boost inbound tourism.

隨后，從3月14日至11月30日，免簽政策又擴展到6個歐洲國家:瑞士、愛爾蘭、匈牙利、奧地利、比利時和盧森堡，以進一步促進入境旅游。

During his visit to France, Chinese President Xi Jinping said China welcomes visits by more people from France, and will extend the short-stay visa-exemption policy for citizens from 12 countries, including France, up to the end of 2025.

習近平總書記在訪問法國期間表示，中國歡迎更多的法國人來中國旅游，并將把對包括法國在內的12個國家公民的短期免簽政策延長至2025年底。

"The recent extension of both the time limit and the list of countries brings a positive outlook for the long run. It alleviates concerns among European stakeholders regarding the policy's duration," said Peng Han, chief analyst for tourism media company Travel Daily.

旅游媒體公司《環球旅訊》首席分析師韓鵬表示：“最近時間限制和國家名單的延長帶來了長期的積極前景。它緩解了歐洲利益相關者對該政策持續時間的擔憂，” 

Travel Daily data show that the total number of inbound tourists from visa-exempt countries in Southeast Asia such as Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand increased more than twofold year-on-year during the Labor Day holiday. In contrast, inbound tourism from Europe as of this year stood at only 30 percent of 2019 figures.

《環球旅訊》數據顯示，勞動節假期期間，來自新加坡、馬來西亞、泰國等東南亞免簽國家的入境游客總數同比增長兩倍多。相比之下，截至今年，來自歐洲的入境游客僅占2019年數字的30%。

According to Peng, European operators typically formulate outbound tourism plans for the following year in June and July, and decisions on whether to engage with Chinese products hinge on whether they receive a clear answer in time.

韓鵬表示，歐洲運營商通常在6月和7月制定下一年的出境游計劃，決定是否與中國產品合作取決于他們是否及時得到明確的答復。

"The industry has been keeping an eye on long-term China-Europe relations and the continuity of the visa policy," he said.

“業界一直在關注中歐長期關系和簽證政策的連續性?！?/p>

He said now that China has given a clear answer on opening its door to Europe through successive policies, it signals to the world the promise of a prosperous future.

他說，現在中國已經通過一系列政策對向歐洲敞開大門給出了明確的答案，這向世界發出了一個繁榮未來的承諾。

Although there has not been a sharp increase in the number of European tour groups coming to China until now, the number of independent travelers indicates the upside of the visa-free policy.

盡管到目前為止，來中國的歐洲旅行團數量并沒有大幅增加，但自由行游客的數量表明了免簽證政策的好處。

Ctrip data said that on March 14 alone, when the visa-free rules took effect, the number of inbound tourism bookings from the six newly added countries more than doubled compared with last year. The number of travel bookings from Belgium, Hungary and Switzerland tripled.

攜程數據顯示，僅在3月14日免簽政策生效當天，這六個新加入國家的入境旅游預訂量就比去年增加了一倍多。來自比利時、匈牙利和瑞士的旅游預訂量增加了兩倍。

According to the National Immigration Administration, more than 170,000 international visitors entered China visa-free through Shanghai Pudong International Airport in the first quarter of this year, showing an increase of 23.6 percent year-on-year.

根據國家移民管理局的數據，今年第一季度，超過17萬名國際游客通過上海浦東國際機場免簽進入中國，同比增長23.6%。

Shanghai, one of the top destinations for European tourists, has prepared itself for a surge in inbound tourism.

作為歐洲游客的首選目的地之一，上海已經為入境旅游的激增做好了準備。

"The resumption of international flights, the visa-free policy, and the full recovery of business at Shanghai International Cruise Home Port will contribute to the number of inbound tourists arriving in Shanghai, especially free independent travelers," said Zhou Weihong, deputy general manager of Spring Tour, a travel company in Shanghai.

一家上海旅游公司春游的副總經理周衛紅說：“國際航班的恢復、免簽政策以及上海國際郵輪母港業務的全面恢復，將有助于增加到上海的入境游客數量，尤其是自由行游客?！?nbsp;

David Huang, a French national who studied at the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing, and now works for a French chocolate company in Beijing, said he has applied for both student and work visas in the past.

曾就讀于北京對外經濟貿易大學的法國人戴維·黃目前在北京一家法國巧克力公司工作。他說，他過去申請過學生簽證和工作簽證。

"The student visa requires at least two months of preparations, including submitting various documents. I also spent more than two months preparing for my work visa after graduating from UIBE," he said.

“學生簽證至少需要兩個月的準備時間，包括提交各種文件。從對外經貿大學畢業后，我也花了兩個多月的時間準備工作簽證?！?/p>

Young French travelers avoid countries that have lengthy visa application procedures, he said, adding that being on a limited budget, buying an air ticket only to have a visa application rejected makes little financial sense for them.

他說，年輕的法國旅行者會避開簽證申請程序冗長的國家，并補充說，由于預算有限，買機票卻被簽證申請拒絕，這對他們來說沒有什么經濟意義。

Business opportunities

"My colleagues in global companies find it much simpler to travel. …Two-week visa-free access allows people to explore business opportunities in China."

“我在跨國公司的同事們發現旅行要簡單得多?！瓋芍艿拿夂炞C可以讓人們在中國探索商機?！?/p>

Laura Carbonell, a sales manager in Toledo, which is about 75 kilometers from the Spanish capital Madrid, said she visited China in November before the visa-free policy was introduced. Even the location of an embassy or consulate from a visa applicant's home can influence the travel decisions, she said.

距離西班牙首都馬德里約75公里的托萊多的銷售經理勞拉·卡博內爾說，她去年11月在免簽政策出臺之前去過中國。她說，就連大使館或領事館離簽證申請人家的距離也會影響他們的旅行決定。

For European countries not on the visa-free list, the application procedures have been streamlined. China has been simplifying its visa procedures worldwide, including canceling appointment requirements and fingerprints for qualified applicants temporarily. Visa fees for travel to China before December for people of all countries have also been cut by 25 percent, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

對于不在免簽名單上的歐洲國家，申請程序已經簡化。中國一直在簡化其在全球的簽證程序，包括暫時取消預約要求和對符合條件的申請人的指紋。根據外交部的消息，所有國家公民在12月之前前往中國的簽證費也將降低25%。

The Chinese embassy in Washington announced the simplification of the tourist visa application process for United States citizens starting from Jan 1 this year. US tourists can now enter China without providing round trip air tickets, hotel reservations, itineraries or an invitation letter.

中國駐華盛頓大使館宣布，從2024年1月1日起，將簡化美國公民的旅游簽證申請程序?，F在，美國游客進入中國無需提供往返機票、酒店預訂、行程或邀請函。

"The future looks promising," Peng of Travel Daily said. "The revival of inbound tourism to its previous peak may simply be a matter of time."

韓鵬表示：“未來看起來很有希望，入境旅游恢復到之前的峰值可能只是時間問題?！?/p>

While China is sending clear signals of openness, political factors in the West are casting a shadow over cross-border travel. In March, the US said it is "taking steps to impose new visa restrictions on multiple Hong Kong officials", without elaborating on the visa measures or the officials targeted.

雖然中國發出了明確的開放信號，但西方的政治因素正在給跨境旅行蒙上陰影。今年3月，美國表示正“采取措施，對多名香港官員實施新的簽證限制”，但沒有詳細說明簽證措施或針對的官員。

 cross-border

（公司）跨國的；（貿易）越過兩邊國界的

visa-free

免簽證