Kaye Chang
Hainan to offer 30-day visa-free period for visitors from 59 countries including the Philippines
As a part of China’s move to improve its tourism, the country expanded its visa-free access to its southernmost province, Hainan, to 59 other countries, including the Philippines.
Dubbed as China’s Hawaii because of its tropical weather, Hainan is warm all year round and has no winter. The province also boasts soft beaches and beautiful tropical scenery, making it a famous holiday destination in China.
Visa-Free to Hainan, China
During a press conference in Beijing, Deputy Director of the State Immigration Administration Qu Yunhai stated that the proposed policy will take place from May 1 onwards. This will allow foreigners from 59 privileged countries, including the Philippines, can travel in the island for 30 days, visa-free.
Yunhai stated that the liberalization goes as a part of the developments and reforms to nurture the tourism industry of the island as well as to remake the island as a beacon of openness to China.
The policy embodies our resolve and approach to move one step further to the opening to the outside world.
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Development of New Activities
Other than the visa-free announcement, China’s goal of positioning Hainan as the Center of International Tourism Consumption, included in the announcement is the development of new activities like horse racing and other types of lotteries that are related to international sports and competitions that are exclusive in the island.
Over the years, the island of Hainan slowly progressed its impressive natural beaches and luxurious resorts. Back in 2016, the island only had a total of one million tourists, a small figure compared to the seven million visitors of Phuket, Thailand every year.
Countries benefiting from the policy include Russia, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Norway, Ukraine, Italy, Austria, Finland, the Netherlands, Denmark, Switzerland, Sweden, Spain, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Poland, Portugal, Ireland, the United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Kazakhstan, the Philippines, Indonesia, and the UAE.
See Also:
- Discovering the Architecture and History of the Great Wall of China
- China Tourist Guide: 5 Awesome Places To Visit While In China
