China expects steady increase of inbound visits in 2024

(ECNS) -- China is expected to see a steady increase in the number of inbound visits in 2024, said Chi Jingyang, border control management director of China's National Immigration Administration (NIA), during a conference held by China's the State Council Information Office on Thursday.

He said in 2023, the number of inbound visits reached 210 million, about 62.9 percent of the total in 2019.

With the recovery of the global economy and resumption of international flights, China will continues to welcome more arrivals in 2024, he added.

China granted 15-day visa-free entry for travelers from France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Malaysia on Dec. 1, 2023.

As of Jan. 9, visits to China through the visa-free policy reached 147, 000, said Mao Xu, director of the NIA's Department of Foreigners Management, during the conference.

On Jan. 8, over 4,300 foreign travelers visited China, more than double the number on Dec. 1, 2023. The move was aimed to further facilitate cross-border travel, Mao added.