Inbound travel to China's Dalian soars 43-fold amid visa-free transit policies
(ECNS) -- The number of inbound tourists at Dalian ports in northeast China's Liaoning Province has surged 43 times year-on-year following the expansion of visa-free travel policies, local authorities announced on Wednesday.
Statistics show that tourists from the Republic of Korea (ROK) and Japan top the list of foreign visitors, accounting for over 85 percent of total entries at Dalian International Airport between Nov. 8, 2024 and Jan. 6, 2025.
China waived visa requirements for ordinary passport holders from the ROK and Japan in November 2024 and extended visa-free transit stays to 240 hours in December 2024, a policy warmly welcomed by the tourism market.
"China Travel" is rapidly gaining popularity in the two Asian countries, particularly among tourists from the ROK. Many visit Dalian to enjoy hot springs, savor local cuisine, and see pandas, while others extend their trips to cities like Shenyang and Harbin in northeast China.
Moreover, Dalian’s close distance to the ROK and Japan, along with direct flights to nine cities including Seoul, Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, and Fukuoka, has further facilitated travel from the two countries.
To better serve inbound tourism, Dalian has stepped up efforts to enhance related services, setting up special visa-free transit areas at all passenger ports and streamlining the arrival card filling process.
Although the peak tourism season in Dalian has passed, the recent 240-hour visa-free transit policy has spurred inbound travel, creating new growth opportunities for the local tourism market and related industries.
Earlier this month, the one-stop service center for foreign visitors at Dalian Zhoushuizi International Airport began trial operation. The center offers services such as communication, transportation, currency exchange, and tourist information, providing a convenient, integrated experience for overseas travelers.