The number of foreign tourists in China remains 65% below pre-pandemic levels
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In 2023, the number of foreigners crossing China’s borders, both for entry and exit, amounted to 34.5 million. Such data yesterday, January 18, published Chinese National Immigration Administration. This is an almost sevenfold increase compared to 2022, when strict Covid restrictions were in force in China and lockdowns were regularly introduced. However, the 2023 figures are 65% lower than pre-pandemic levels – in 2019, the number of entries and exits of foreigners amounted to 97.7 million.
The number of foreigners coming to China has been rising late last year, with more than half of all foreign border crossings occurring in the last three months of 2023. China is seeking to attract foreign tourists after the pandemic – for example, this week the Chinese authorities agreed on visa-free entry into the country for citizens of Switzerland and Ireland. In November, China began testing a program allowing citizens of France, Germany, Italy and several other countries to enter the country for 15 days without a visa. In addition, the number of foreigners living in China has almost reached pre-pandemic levels – 711 thousand residence permits were issued last year, which is only 15% less than in 2019.
Read about the Chinese economy in the Kommersant article “China is no longer in a hurry”.
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