STORY: Visa-free policy boosts "China travel" trend
SHOOTING TIME: File
DATELINE: Dec. 1, 2024
LENGTH: 00:01:46
LOCATION: Beijing
CATEGORY: POLITICS/ECONOMY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of foreign tourists in China
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): OLGA ALEKSEEVA, Russian tourist
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): PETROS LIGOXYGAKIS, Greek tourist
4. SOUNDBITE 3 (French): MAREZZA OLIVIA, French tourist
5. various of China
6. various of foreign tourists in China
7. SOUNDBITE 4 (Greek): THEODORE SOTIRIDIS, Greek travel agent
8. SOUNDBITE 5 (English): CIPRIAN SLEMCO, President of the Bucovina Tourism Association

STORYLINE:

China has implemented visa exemption policies for 38 countries since the end of last year.

Under this arrangement, visitors can stay in China without a visa for up to 30 days for purposes such as business, tourism, family visits, exchanges and transit.

These visa policies have shown remarkable results. China received approximately 94.63 million inbound trips in the first three quarters of this year, up 78.8 percent year-on-year, according to China's National Immigration Administration.

China has also implemented a variety of favorable measures for tourism, including payment facilitation and network services.

Many tourists from overseas have shared their impressions of trips in China. 

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): OLGA ALEKSEEVA, Russian tourist
"We came through the visa-free policy. It's super convenient to travel and to see around."

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): PETROS LIGOXYGAKIS, Greek tourist
"I feel very safe, and it's very easy to do everything, even if you don't speak the language."

SOUNDBITE 3 (French): MAREZZA OLIVIA, French tourist
"I stayed in China for a month, visiting Shanghai, Beijing and then Tianjin. My first impression is that China is very big and beautiful, and that the Chinese people are warm, hospitable, and often share with me Chinese culture."

International tourism industry practitioners have welcomed the policy, which has facilitated travel to China and enhanced international exchange.

SOUNDBITE 4 (Greek): THEODORE SOTIRIDIS, Greek travel agent
"Now, with the lifting of the visa, it is a very easy trip. It is a very economical trip. I would like to thank the Chinese government for this measure, which is obviously a pilot program, just as any big change starts as a pilot scheme at first. I think and hope it will become permanent."

SOUNDBITE 5 (English): CIPRIAN SLEMCO, President of the Bucovina Tourism Association
"I think the Chinese market is quite important for Eastern Europe, and of course for Romania. My experience in China was very good. I suppose our government will develop this relationship more than it is right now."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Beijing.
(XHTV)