China will allow visa-free entry for foreign tour groups that arrive via cruise ships in a further bid to attract international visitors and boost tourism, reports Caixin. Overseas groups on cruise boats will be able to stay in China without a visa for up to 15 days, according to the National Immigration Administration, with the policy coming into effect from May 15.
Tour groups can enter China from 13 ports including Shanghai, Qingdao, Dalian and Haikou, Mao Xu, a senior official with the immigration administration, said at a press conference in Beijing on Wednesday. Qualifying tour groups need to be received and handled by domestic travel agencies and will be allowed to explore coastal provinces as well as the capital, Beijing, while they are in China, Mao said.
“The visa-free entry policy for foreign tour groups on cruise ships will help attract more foreign tourists to China and provide more convenient channels for people-to-people exchanges between China and other countries,” Mao said.