DestinationsWithin the first week of the visa-free policy, DidaTravel noted a 50% increase in hotel sales from the six countries.

Visa-free travel fuels surge in inbound China bookings

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Starting 1 December 2023, China allows visa-free travel for 15 days to visitors from Malaysia, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Spain.
Starting 1 December 2023, China allows visa-free travel for 15 days to visitors from Malaysia, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Spain. Photo Credit: Adobe Stock/axz65

DidaTravel, a tech-driven global travel distributor, has noticed a significant increase in hotel bookings to China after the country announced visa-free travel for visitors from France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Malaysia.

Since the visa policy started on 1 December 2023, DidaTravel observed a remarkable 50% rise in hotel sales from these countries from 1-7 December, compared to the prior week.

Spanish travellers showed a staggering 100% increase in hotel bookings to China within the first week of the policy. Similarly, Italy and Malaysia saw substantial growth, with a 50% and 67% surge in hotel reservations, respectively, during the same period.

The visa exemption allows a 15-day visit for various purposes like business, tourism, and visiting relatives, aiming to boost inbound tourism by making it easier for passport holders from these countries.

Although China's overall inbound tourism market has not fully recovered due to borders opening only in early 2023, DidaTravel's year-to-date hotel sales to China have skyrocketed by 151% compared to the same period in 2019. Spain, Malaysia, and Italy are now among the top 20 markets for inbound travel to China in 2023.

Rikin Wu, DidaTravel's Founder & CEO, is excited about the policy's growth potential and commits to supporting global partners by offering a wide range of products in China. Wu aims to cater to the rising demand to explore China and foster collaboration in the evolving tourism industry.

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