Foreign tourists are eagerly looking forward to visiting China, fueled by a range of visa-free policy expansions.
China's visa-free transit policy, which allows travelers from 54 countries to stay in China for up to six days while en route to a third destination, has been extended to 10 days starting in December 2024.
Moreover, visa-free stays for tourism, business or family visits have been doubled to 30 days for citizens of 38 countries.
Tourists from various countries said that they are fascinated by China's rich history, vibrant culture and numerous attractions.
"I would like to go to China, absolutely. China will be my first preference, actually. I do want to go and see some of the main items in China, which is the Chinese Great Wall," said Jack from New Zealand.
"The Great Wall of China is where my heart longs for. I love hiking and nature, so visiting the Great Wall is a must for me," said a Frenchman.
"I believe China's capital Beijing is definitely worth visiting. I want to explore the capital first and then smaller but equally fascinating places," said Tito from Brazil.
"I'd like to travel to Shanghai the most because I'd like to see the skyscrapers and go shopping, and of course, enjoy some of the local restaurants," said Derner from New Zealand.
The relaxed visa policy has attracted millions of first-time travelers and encouraged many returning travelers to prolong their stays.
"I want to visit China because I really appreciate its culture—I find it fascinating. Now I have learned about China's visa-free policy, and it's fantastic. It makes traveling to China easier for us. For me, any place in China will amaze me since it's so different from my everyday life," said Marina from Brazil.
"China's visa-free policy for France is great news. It shows that France and China are friends and that China welcomes the French, while the French also enjoy China. The policy has encouraged more French people to travel to China," said another Frenchman.
Relaxed visa-free policy fuels int'l eagerness for visit to China
A 25 percent import tariff on all foreign-built vehicles entering the United States has raised serious concerns for manufacturers in South Africa.
Automotive giants like Mercedes and BMW have long used South Africa as a base for global exports -- but those plans may be shifting into reverse gear after the U.S. announced the punitive measures.
"If you take, for example, BMW, 97 percent of the X3 that we are producing in Rosslyn is exported out of the country. We only sell 3 percent in South Africa, and there's a huge number of those vehicles that also go into the U.S. So there are companies in South Africa that are purely here not because they are selling vehicles in South Africa; they are here to produce vehicles for the global market, and it's important for them to remain globally competitive," said Mike Mabasa, CEO of the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa.
U.S. automaker Ford, which has deep roots in South Africa, is also in the crosshairs.
The company recently invested over 300 million U.S. dollars to upgrade its Silverton plant in Pretoria, South Africa, for the production of the world's only plug-in hybrid Ranger, which has just entered production but could face delays or restrictions.
"If an American citizen wants to buy specifically a Ford Ranger that is a plug-in hybrid, they can only place an order in South Africa, nowhere else in the world. So, that means, obviously, the capacity of Ford to be able to produce those vehicles in big volumes is going to be constrained, because Americans are going be looking at another Ford that is produced in another country, or even in the United States," said Mabasa.
South Africa has long enjoyed duty-free automotive exports to the U.S. under the African Growth and Opportunity Act, but that relationship now hangs in the balance.
A sharp shift in U.S. foreign policy threatens to derail an industry that employs thousands and contributes around 5 percent to the country's economy.
"We produce less than 1 percent of global automotive vehicles, so to say. So, in reality, the impact on us is likely to be more disproportionate than those of our peers that produce at the same level. And the risk is actually created -- a concentration risk -- in countries that have greater capacity and are building more; in those countries will be able to absorb some of this," said Parks Tau, South Africa's minister of trade and industry.
Amid growing concerns about overreliance on the U.S. market, Amith Singh, national manager for manufacturing at Nedbank Commercial Bank, emphasized the importance of tapping into regional trade opportunities.
"I think we need to make better use of some of our local agreements, our African continental agreements. How do we leverage that? How do we partner with the government and private sector to start benefiting the countries and the economies aside from the United States? So, those could be the catalyst to drive our localization projects; it could be what we need to drive the African economy as opposed to being completely reliant on the States (United States)," he said.
South Africa is for now standing firm in its decision not to retaliate against steep U.S. import tariffs, set to take effect in just a few days.
Officials in Pretoria acknowledge the challenges posed by the current U.S. administration but are pursuing a diplomatic approach in hopes of maintaining stable relations and preserving the African Growth and Opportunity Act.
US tariffs rock South Africa’s auto industry
