Archive · 13 Aug 2026
China's visa-free push pays off as tourist arrivals jump 20%
China is a very big country in Asia.
For a few years, it was hard for people from other countries to visit because of the pandemic.
China changed its rules and let many tourists come without needing a special travel permit called a visa.
This made a lot more people want to visit.
In 2025, about 35 million foreign tourists came to China, which is 20% more than the year before.
Most of them, more than 7 out of 10, arrived without a visa.
Visitors from South Korea, Russia, Malaysia and Thailand came the most.
But fewer people came from Japan because of a disagreement between the two countries.
China is also using videos and famous people online to show off its exciting cities.
Still, tourists in China do not spend as much money as tourists in some other countries, so China hopes they will stay longer and visit again.
Around 35 million foreign tourists visited China in 2025, a 20% jump from the previous year.
More than 70% of foreign travellers arriving in China in 2025 entered under visa-free arrangements.
China began gradually expanding visa-free access in 2023 to rebuild international tourism after pandemic restrictions.
South Korea, Russia, Malaysia and Thailand led the surge, while Japanese arrivals declined amid a diplomatic dispute.
Inbound tourism accounted for less than 0.5% of China's GDP in 2025, and per-capita tourist spending was about $2,240, roughly 40% of the US level.
- Who
- Foreign tourists visiting China, along with the Chinese government and local tourism authorities promoting the country
- What
- Foreign tourist arrivals surged 20% to about 35 million in 2025, driven largely by visa-free entry policies and tourism marketing campaigns
- When
- 2025, following the gradual expansion of visa-free access that began in 2023
- Where
- China, with strong growth in Beijing and active promotional efforts in cities such as Chongqing and Shanghai
- Why
- To rebuild international tourism and restore travel links disrupted by the pandemic, and to turn the boom into sustained consumer spending and economic growth
- Foreign tourist arrivals (2025)
- ~35 million, up 20% year-on-year
- Travellers entering visa-free
- More than 70% of foreign arrivals in 2025
- Visa-free expansion began
- 2023
- Leading source countries
- South Korea, Russia, Malaysia, Thailand
- Inbound tourism share of GDP
- Less than 0.5% (vs. ~8% in mature economies like Spain and Thailand)
- Per-capita inbound tourist spending
- About $2,240, roughly 40% of the US level
- Beijing tourism funding (2026)
- Additional 2.64 million yuan for staffing and online publicity
- Shanghai promotional spending
- At least 1.6 million yuan via platforms like Expedia and Booking.com