Visa-free entry boosts tourism in China but it's still a hard sell

Wide use of digital payments, negative views of country keep some away

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Mr Guilherme Carvalho made his first visit to China this month, and the Italian said one of the main factors behind the trip is a post-pandemic policy to scrap entry permits for some tourists.

Previously, all foreign visitors had to go through the onerous process of applying for a Chinese visa. Now, visitors from more than a dozen countries can just fly in, and stay for up to 15 days.

“I didn’t expect to feel so safe,” said Mr Carvalho, who visited Shanghai. “Everyone is so kind.”

He is not alone. As the authorities focus on boosting foreign tourism in a bid to revive the economy and perk up sluggish consumer spending, thousands have flocked to China, encouraged by the visa policy and easier access to its unique digital payment services.

As of June 24, bookings from countries under the visa policy, including France, Germany, Italy, Malaysia and Thailand, had surged 150 per cent year-on-year, data from China’s largest online travel agency showed.

Bookings for July and August are set to be higher.

“We’re very excited to see the trend. Lots of people had some misunderstandings about China before they came, but after they arrive, they feel cities like Shanghai are very safe, very clean,” said chief executive Jane Sun.