China Welcomes 'International Tourists' to Celebrate Chinese New Year

Beijing – On Tuesday (Jan. 14), Guo Jiakun, spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, announced that China warmly welcomes international tourists to join in the celebrations of the Chinese Lunar New Year and experience the joy of the traditional festival.

The General Office of the State Council has released measures aimed at promoting new growth drivers to stimulate spending in the cultural and tourism sectors. Among these measures is the expansion of visa-free entry policies for more countries.

Reports indicate that China’s visa exemption policies have significantly boosted inbound tourism. The “China Travel” trend has been a prominent topic since the start of 2025, with a large number of foreign tourists spending New Year’s Eve and welcoming the New Year in China. Several travel companies forecast a 203% year-on-year increase in foreign tourist bookings during this year’s Chinese New Year celebrations.

Guo noted that the number of foreign tourists visiting China has steadily increased, supported by enhanced visa-free policies and improved facilitation measures. In 2024, there were 64.88 million inbound and outbound trips involving foreigners, an 82.9% year-on-year increase. Of these, 20.12 million were visa-free entries, a 112.3% increase compared to the previous year. Additionally, foreign visitors during the recent New Year holiday increased by 34% year-on-year.

The 2025 Chinese New Year falls in the Year of the Snake, according to the Chinese Lunar Calendar. This marks the first Chinese New Year since UNESCO designated the festival as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Source:
World View Thai News – China Welcomes 'International Tourists' to Celebrate Chinese New Year