Friday, June 21, 2024
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China and Australia travel and tourism industry are set to surge with the new five-year visa agreement, enhancing bilateral travel and business ties.
China and Australia have announced a new visa agreement that will significantly ease travel between the two countries. Starting Friday, citizens from both nations can obtain multiple-entry visas valid for up to five years for tourism and business purposes, according to a statement from China’s foreign ministry. This move signals a positive shift in bilateral relations following a milestone visit by China’s Premier Li Qiang to Australia earlier this week, aimed at stabilizing ties after a period of strained relations.
Previously, Chinese citizens could apply for visas allowing stays of up to one year in Australia, or up to 10 years for frequent travelers. The announcement sparked immediate interest, with searches for flights, hotels, and related services to Australia surging over 200% on Tongcheng Travel, a Chinese travel platform, as reported by state-backed media The Paper.
China’s decision to expand visa options comes as part of broader efforts to relax entry restrictions imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic, which severely limited international travel for several years. Premier Li’s visit also included the announcement that Australia will be included in China’s visa waiver program, allowing Australians to visit China for up to 15 days without a visa requirement.
With the introduction of these extended visas, both China and Australia’s corporate and business travel industries are poised for a significant boost. China remains one of the largest sources of tourists to Australia, with a substantial increase expected due to easier travel arrangements. Moreover, the nonstop scheduled capacity between mainland China and Australia is set to expand further in the coming months. Beijing Capital Airlines is launching a new route, adding a third service to Australia from Qingdao International Airport to Melbourne Airport (MEL) and Sydney Airport (SYD). This move, along with existing flights by China Eastern Airlines to Hangzhou, will boost both countries’ travel and tourism industry significantly.
