South China's tropical island province of Hainan has experienced a dramatic increase in foreign visitors since China implemented a visa-free policy for citizens of countries with diplomatic ties.
People from countries with diplomatic relations with China can visit Hainan visa-free for 144 hours via tour groups registered in Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions, the National Immigration Administration said on July 30.
On Monday China announced it was extending its visa-free policy for foreign travelers, which now allows visitors from 54 countries to breeze into 37 entry ports nationwide under the 144-hour visa-free transit policy.
The policy applies to all state-established open ports in Hainan Province, which are open to foreign tourist groups entering and exiting. The travel scope is limited to the administrative region of Hainan, and the duration of stay is calculated from midnight on the day after entry.
"Since the implementation of the new policy, along with the visa-free access for 59 countries, it has greatly benefited our travel agencies and increased the number of foreign tourists visiting Hainan," said Wang Fangming, business manager of Hainan Haoyang International Travel Service Co., Ltd.
Travel agencies must declare tour group information to the border inspection agency at the port of entry through the National Immigration Administration's government service platform by 16:00 the day before the tourist group's entry, which can save time for passport stamps and filling out arrival cards.
"We believe that the implementation of this policy will further boost Hainan to become an international tourism and consumption destination, and will play a positive role in making the island more open with an optimized business environment," said Zhao Jing, director of the Exit-Entry Administration under the Hainan Public Security Bureau.
"During peak periods, we will also open special channels for foreign tourist groups. If individuals need to leave the group due to personal reasons, they can apply to the immigration administration authorities in Hainan. After completing the procedures, they can continue to stay or leave under their personal identity," said Rao Jun, deputy director of the border inspection department under Haikou Border Inspection Station.
In the first half of this year, Hainan received a total of 495,800 inbound tourists, a 251.6 percent surge compared to the same period last year.
Hainan welcomes surge in visitor numbers thanks to visa-free policy
