customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

moreOnThisArticles

urlAlias

commentCount

sponsorType

authorLocations

authors

paywallTypes

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

socialHeadline

headline

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

publishedDate

additionalInfoBoxes

images

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

createdDate

sponsor

factSheets

series

summary

updatedDate

knowledgeQuestion

disableOffPlatformContent

published

subHeadline

body

keywords

copyrighted

customTimezone

liveContents

Ke Hanyan

China’s charm offensive and relaxed visa policies intended to attract foreign travellers to return are seemingly paying off with cruise passenger traffic having surged in the second quarter.
Beijing announced in May that foreign visitors in tour groups of at least two people could stay in China for up to 15 days without a visa if they arrive via any of China’s 13 cruise ports.
And according to the Ministry of Transport, cruise traffic rose by nearly 60 per cent in the second quarter from the first three months of the year.
Cruise passenger traffic in the first half stood at nearly 500,000, recovering to more than half of the same period in 2019, the ministry added.
China has resumed operations for its eight cruise ships from seven companies after lifting its coronavirus-related curbs last year, operating routes from Chinese ports to Japan, South Korea, the Philippines and Vietnam.




Additionally, more than 10 foreign-flagged cruise ships have visited ports in China.
“The accelerated recovery of the cruise economy has provided strong support for further expanding domestic demand and boosting consumption,” said ministry official Li Xuelian.
The ministry has also pledged to accelerate construction of cruise terminals.
After China’s first home-grown large cruise liner, Adora Magic City, entered commercial service in January, a second domestically-produced large cruise ship is being built at an accelerated pace, with significant improvements in size, cabin layout and systems.
To revive its coronavirus pandemic-hit tourism market and enhance people-to-people exchanges with foreign countries, China has unveiled measures including visa-free transit policies to attract foreign travellers.


As a result, 14.64 million inbound trips were made by foreigners in the first half of the year, up 152.7 per cent year on year, after the measures were introduced in January, the National Immigration Administration said last week.
Among them, 8.5 million people entered visa-free, accounting for 52 per cent of the total, registering a 190.1 per cent increase compared to the same period last year.
On Monday, the immigration administration also added two airports and one railway station in Henan and Yunnan provinces to the original 34 eligible entry points under China’s 144-hour visa-free transit policy.
Starting from Monday, foreigners may also enter China via Zhengzhou, Henan’s provincial capital, but they are only allowed to stay within the province.
They have also been granted visa-free access to eight more cities or prefecture-level areas in Yunnan.
Previously, foreign visitors could enter Yunnan for 144 hours without a visa through Kunming Changshui International Airport, but their travel was limited to the provincial capital of Kunming.


China’s economic activity softens in August as major figures miss projections

DHL riding China’s export wave with millions in new investments

China’s ‘conscientious economist’ goes viral by speaking the truth

President Xi Jinping tones down focus on China’s growth targets as headwinds mount

China's economic recovery

China’s visa-free policies paying off as cruise traffic rises 60%, offers consumption boost

Foreign tourists prepare to go sightseeing after completing passenger clearance procedures in north China’s Tianjin Municipality on April 7, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

Cruise ship Zuiderdam, operated by Holland America Line, docking at Tianjin International Cruise Home Port in China’s northern port city of Tianjin. Photo: Xinhua

China’s consumers up travel interest despite worries, eye ‘rigorous yet relaxed’ lifestyle

Nearly a half of consumers aged between 18 and 59 in a survey of 3,000 online users by consulting firm Mintel said they are increasing spending on travel and holidays. Photo: Xinhua

Nearly a half of consumers aged between 18 and 59 in a survey of 3,000 online users by consulting firm Mintel said they are increasing spending on travel and holidays. Photo: Bloomberg

More bumps on China’s road to 5% economic growth in 2024: 7 data takeaways

Property investment continued to drag on China’s economy in June, analysts said. Photo: Reuters

Retail sales in China rose by 2 per cent in June, marking the “weakest level since exiting pandemic restrictions”, analysts said. Photo: EPA-EFE

China’s economic growth misses the mark amid weak demand, risks ‘undershooting’ annual target

China’s economic growth underperformed against market expectations in the second quarter. Photo: AFP

Land, sea and air: 5 visa-free ways to travel to mainland China from 72 hours up to 30 days

China reopened its borders and abandoned quarantine in January 2023 after shedding three years of its zero-Covid policy. Photo: Xinhua

Foreign visitors may spend 15 days in China without a visa if they arrive on international cruises. Photo: Xinhua

Visa-free China entry approved at all cruise ports, tourists allowed to stay for up to 15 days

A cruise ship is seen in waters off of Shanghai. China is allowing visa-free entries for foreigners who arrive via cruises. Photo: Getty Images

A cruise passenger goes through clearance procedures in Tianjin. China is now allowing visa-free entries for foreigners who arrive via cruises. Photo: Getty Images

Economy

Economic Indicators

China Economy

News

China

An ‘accelerated recovery’ of China’s cruise economy has provided support for expanding domestic demand and boosting consumption, Ministry of Transport says


An ‘accelerated recovery’ of China’s cruise economy has provided support for expanding domestic demand and boosting consumption, Ministry of Transport says.


China travel

Tourism

Chinese tourists

China economy