China Opens Coastline to Visa-Free Cruise Ship Tourism

This article has been reviewed and fact-checked by Wego’s editorial team.

For anyone with China on their bucket list for 2024, this summer just got a whole lot more scintillating! As announced by the National Immigration Administration Government in China, a new policy has been adapted on Wednesday, 15 May 2024, to revive China’s cruise industry to its prior glory by allowing foreign tourists to enter the country on cruise ships without a visa along the coastline, Wego reports.

In order to avail yourself of this exciting opportunity, you have to be part of a tourist group consisting of two or more individuals hosted by domestic travel agencies in China. These groups are eligible for visa-free entry into the country for 15 days only through designated cruise ship ports in 13 cities.

The tourists entering the country on cruise ships without a visa through those selected 13 ports are permitted to stay in China for a maximum of 15 days. Additionally, each member of the group is to travel together on the same cruise ship to the ports once they arrive in China, and tourist activities should be limited to coastal provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions, as well as Beijing.

The National Immigration Administration will work with relevant departments to implement decisions of the Party Central Committee and the State Council. They will focus on economic construction, high-quality development, reform, innovation, and policy coordination to promote personnel exchanges between China and foreign countries, as well as aim to foster international exchanges and cooperation to facilitate China’s global social relations.