China will allow visa-free entry for foreign tourist groups arriving by cruise ship at 13 ports starting May 15, 2024. Visitors must stay with the same ship and in permitted areas for up to 15 days to boost tourism and enhance cruise industry growth.
China Implements Visa-Free Entry for Foreign Tourist Groups on Cruise Ships
China will allow visa-free entry for foreign tourist groups arriving by cruise ship at 13 ports along the coast, starting May 15, 2024. Visitors must stay with the same ship and in permitted areas for up to 15 days. This policy aims to boost tourism and facilitate high-quality development in the cruise industry.
New Visa-Free Policy for Foreign Tourist Groups
China’s immigration agency announced that it will grant a visa-free policy for foreign tourist groups to enter China by cruise at all cruise ports along the coast of China, starting May 15, 2024. The tourist group must remain with the same cruise ship until its next port of call and stay within permitted areas for no more than 15 days. Effective May 15, 2024, the National Immigration Administration (NIA) has officially implemented a visa-free policy for foreign tourist groups entering China via cruise ships.
Benefits and Impacts of the Visa-Free Policy
Under this policy, foreign tourist groups, comprising two or more individuals, who travel by cruise ship and are organized by Chinese domestic travel agencies, can now enjoy visa-free entry as a cohesive group at cruise ports in 13 cities along the Chinese coast. The recent implementation of the visa-free policy for foreign tourist groups entering China via cruise ships is poised to have several significant effects. The policy will provide crucial support for the cruise economy and the overall cruise industry, facilitating smoother travel for foreign tourist groups and attracting more international visitors to the Chinese market.