STORY: China's visa-free policies in eyes of foreign travelers
SHOOTING TIME: July 2, 2024/July 11, 2024
DATELINE: July 13, 2024
LENGTH: 00:01:30
LOCATION: CHONGQING, China 
CATEGORY: SOCIETY 

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the travelers at the airport in southwest China's Chongqing
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): TARE MAKARAND, Australian traveler
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): OBRIEN JOHN PATRICK, Australian traveler
4. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): MS. ZHOU, Australian traveler
5. SOUNDBITE 4 (English): PETROS LIGOXYGAKIS, Greek traveler

STORYLINE:

Currently, foreign nationals from 54 countries are eligible for the 72/144-hour transit visa-free policies that are effective at 38 ports in 18 provincial-level regions across China.   

In the latest move to boost the inbound tourism market, China has extended its visa-free policy to New Zealand, Australia and Poland starting July 1.

According to the National Immigration Administration (NIA), the number of visa-free entries made by foreigners exceeded 8.54 million from January to June, accounting for 52 percent of the inbound trips and representing a year-on-year surge of 190.1 percent.

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): TARE MAKARAND, Australian traveler
"We'll go around some beautiful mountains and see the local culture, food. I love China. I've been visiting (China) for many years."

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): OBRIEN JOHN PATRICK, Australian traveler
"I can just come and go where I like when I can leave Australia, come and see my granddaughter anytime I like, instead of going and applying for a visa all the time."

SOUNDBITE 3 (English): MS. ZHOU, Australian traveler
"I think it's great because, like our family, my baby is Australian, I am Chinese and husband is Australian. So it's very convenient for us to come back to China to visit our families."

SOUNDBITE 4 (English): PETROS LIGOXYGAKIS, Greek traveler
"I feel very safe, and it's very easy to do everything, even if you don't speak the language."

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