China is seeing a strong increase in international visitors after expanding its visa-free travel programme, with more travellers able to enter the country without going through the traditional visa process.
The country received 22.91 million visits from foreign nationals during the first six months of 2026, marking a 20.4% rise compared with the same period last year. China’s visa-free policy accounted for 77.7% of these arrivals.
More countries gain easier access
China expanded its unilateral visa-exemption programme this year to include ordinary passport holders from Canada and the United Kingdom.
From February 17, eligible travellers from both countries have been able to visit mainland China for up to 30 days without a visa. The programme is currently expected to continue until December 31, 2026.
The move is aimed at encouraging people-to-people exchanges while supporting tourism, business and stronger international connections.
China has gradually expanded the programme since December 2023, when it began trials for visitors from six European and Asian countries. The scheme has since grown to cover 50 countries.
Foreign travel to China continues to grow
China recorded 697 million inbound and outbound crossings in 2025, a 14.2% increase from the previous year. International visitors accounted for more than 82 million crossings, with over 73% benefiting from visa-free arrangements.
The country’s tourism industry has also seen strong financial growth. The World Travel & Tourism Council estimated that more than 68 million international visitors entered China in 2025, while international visitor spending rose to $135 billion.
China targets bigger tourism growth
Beijing is now looking to make tourism an important part of its economic expansion during the 2026-2030 period.
The country aims to attract 190 million inbound tourists annually by 2030, with inbound tourism spending expected to exceed $150 billion a year.
China is also investing in high-speed rail, airports, smart cities and technology-driven travel services to make visiting the country easier.
A bigger role in global tourism
The expansion comes as international tourism continues its post-pandemic recovery. Around 1.52 billion international tourist arrivals were recorded worldwide in 2025, according to UN Tourism.
With growing outbound travel from emerging markets and improving air connectivity, China could become an increasingly important force in global tourism — both as a major destination and as one of the world’s biggest sources of international travellers.