Chinese Premier Li Qiang made the announcement during his official visit to Australia, marking a significant step toward facilitating personal exchanges between the countries.

Under the new agreement, China and Australia have agreed to provide reciprocal access to five-year multiple entry visas for tourism, business, and visiting family members. The specifics of the visa waiver arrangement are yet to be detailed, but the move is expected to remove visa hassles and allure more travelers from both countries.

Australia's national airline, Qantas, had recently decided to withdraw from mainland China, but China's visa waiver for Australian citizens may encourage a reconsideration of this decision. The inclusion of Australia and New Zealand in China's visa waiver program follows a similar decision made for New Zealand passport holders last week, highlighting China's efforts to ease travel restrictions and promote two-way travel.

China has steadily expanded its visa-free access to various countries over the past year. The initial trial period for visa-free travel, which began in November, included France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Malaysia. The program was later expanded to include Ireland, Switzerland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, and Luxembourg. Furthermore, China extended the visa-free policy until December 31, 2025.

With the inclusion of Australia and New Zealand, the number of countries enjoying visa-free entry to China has reached a total of 14. Passport holders from these countries can stay in China for up to 15 days for tourism, business, family visits, or transit purposes.

In addition to these visa waiver initiatives, China has also signed mutual visa exemption agreements with Singapore and Thailand, allowing visa-free visits of up to 30 days per entry. Furthermore, China has relaxed visa requirements for U.S. citizens, removed the need for specific documents for tourist visa applications, and introduced visa-free stays of up to 15 days for tourists arriving via cruise ships.

While China's tourism sector has been gradually recovering from the impact of the pandemic, inbound recovery has yet to reach pre-pandemic levels. In 2023, China saw 35.5 million foreign visitors, only about 36% of the 97.7 million recorded in 2019. However, there are signs of resurgence, as Trip.com Group, a Chinese online travel agency, reported a tenfold increase in inbound travel bookings during the Lunar New Year compared to the previous year.

To enhance the travel experience for international tourists, China has strengthened partnerships with major payment organizations such as Ant Group and Mastercard. The International Consumer Friendly Zones program, launched in Shanghai, aims to make transactions smoother for global travelers.

China's efforts to attract more international tourists hold significant economic potential. If inbound tourism reaches the international median of 1.5% of GDP, it is estimated to yield a growth of over RMB 1.3 trillion ($179 billion), as stated by Jane Sun, CEO of Trip.com Group.

As China continues to expand its visa waiver program and implement measures to ease travel restrictions, the country aims to revive its tourism sector and foster closer ties with countries worldwide.