China is aiming to expand its tourism industry and is taking steps to revitalize its economy after the coronavirus pandemic.
The country has lowered visa fees for travelers from a wide range of countries.
The fee will be reduced from December 11 this year until December 31, 2024, the Chinese embassy said in a statement.
Countries such as Thailand, Japan, Mexico, Vietnam and the Philippines will face lower visa fees.
China aims for economic growth
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China has recently made a series of announcements aimed at revitalizing its economy.
This includes promoting inbound travel by foreign tourists and businessmen.
Last month, China announced it would temporarily waive visa requirements for citizens of France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Malaysia.
This is one of the moves aimed at promoting post-pandemic tourism.
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Chinese authorities aim to revitalize tourism economy post-COVID-19
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A Foreign Ministry spokesperson said that nationals of these countries do not need visas to enter China for business, tourism, visiting relatives or friends, or for transit purposes of up to 15 days.
The motion will last from December 1st to November 30th next year.
British nationals still need a visa to enter mainland China, including Hainan Island, but not Hong Kong or Macau.
The incident comes as China has taken steps to boost tourism in recent months. This includes restoring international routes as it seeks to re-establish its image around the world.
In October, China expanded its visa-free transit policy to 54 countries, including Norwegian citizens.
In August, China abolished all coronavirus testing requirements for travelers visiting Japan. In July, it resumed 15-day visa-free entry for citizens of Singapore and Brunei.
China’s aviation authority announced in October that it expected to operate 16,680 weekly flights from November to March.
It added that the number of domestic and international flights is recovering.