BEIJING (Reuters) – China will temporarily exempt visitors from France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Malaysia from visas, a measure aimed at supporting the difficult recovery of tourism after the COVID-19 pandemic.
From December 1 to November 30, 2024, nationals of these countries arriving in China for business, tourism, visiting relatives and friends, or in transit for up to 15 days, will not need a visa, said a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry on Friday.
This latest measure comes after Beijing’s reestablishment of international air links at the start of the year and the end of strict health measures that isolated China for three years.
At the beginning of the month, Chinese authorities had already exempted visitors from 54 countries, including Norway, from visas. In August, they removed all COVID-19 testing requirements for incoming travelers.
(Reporting Joe Cash, Ethan Wang and Ryan Woo, Blandine Hénault for the French version)
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