STORY: One month into visa-free policy, SW China's border sees increase in traveler flow
SHOOTING TIME: Dec. 31, 2023
DATELINE: Jan. 2, 2024
LENGTH: 00:01:19
LOCATION: KUNMING, China
CATEGORY: ECONOMY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the station
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): REITH KOEN LODEWIJK, Dutch traveler
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): CHEONG KEAN BENG, Worker with a Malaysian tour group

STORYLINE:

The entry-exit border inspection station in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, has seen a significant increase in the number of travelers, thanks to China's unilateral visa-free policy.

The visa-free policy for ordinary passport holders from six countries, including France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Malaysia, took effect on Dec. 1.

According to the station, a total of more than 15,000 travelers from these countries entered China, a 352 percent rise from November.

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): REITH KOEN LODEWIJK, Dutch traveler
"It's nice that we don't need a visa to go to China."

SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): CHEONG KEAN BENG, Worker with a Malaysian tour group
"China has beautiful scenery and many places to go, such as Yunnan, in which we will visit Jiuxiang Karst Cave, Stone Forest, Lijiang, Dali, and Shangri-la during our trip."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Kunming, China.
(XHTV)