China’s Tourism Industry Gains Momentum Thanks to Visa-Free Policies
In the first half of 2026, China received 22.91 million foreign visits, up 20.4 percent year on year, with visa-free policies accounting for 77.7 percent of arrivals. The program was expanded to include Canada and the U.K. starting February 17, 2026, allowing 30-day visa-free travel. China aims to attract 190 million inbound tourists annually by 2030, with over $150 billion in annual spending.
Why it matters: This underscores the theme of global economic interdependence, as China's visa-free policies boost tourism and people-to-people exchanges, affecting both its own economy and global travel markets.