Capital city to launch visa-free stay policy
Source: Xinhua |
December 6, 2012, Thursday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
BEIJING is to introduce a 72-hour visa-free stay policy for citizens of 45 countries to boost tourism, authorities said yesterday.
From January 1, tourists holding third country visas and plane tickets can apply for a transit without visa at Beijing Capital International Airport, said Ji Lixia, assistant director of the Beijing General Station of Exit and Entry Frontier Inspection.
The 45 countries were listed in accordance with the numbers of inbound overnight visitors in Beijing from 2009 to 2011.
"Foreign visitors must be reminded that they are not permitted to leave Beijing to other Chinese cities during the 72 hours, and have to depart from Beijing," Ji said.
Ji said visitors would have to register at a police station with their visas within 24 hours of their arrival.
"A relaxed visa policy is common practice to boost the inbound tourist market," said Wang Yue, deputy director of the Beijing Municipal Commission of Tourism Development.
Beijing receives some 5 million foreign visitors every year. The number is expected to double in three years as a result of the policy, city officials said.
"On average, overseas visitors stay in Beijing for three days and four nights, and their personal spending is about US$1,000, twice the amount spent by domestic visitors," Wang said.
Xu Jianqiang, chief economist at Air China, said he believed more foreign visitors would go sightseeing and hold business events in the capital city.
From January 1, tourists holding third country visas and plane tickets can apply for a transit without visa at Beijing Capital International Airport, said Ji Lixia, assistant director of the Beijing General Station of Exit and Entry Frontier Inspection.
The 45 countries were listed in accordance with the numbers of inbound overnight visitors in Beijing from 2009 to 2011.
"Foreign visitors must be reminded that they are not permitted to leave Beijing to other Chinese cities during the 72 hours, and have to depart from Beijing," Ji said.
Ji said visitors would have to register at a police station with their visas within 24 hours of their arrival.
"A relaxed visa policy is common practice to boost the inbound tourist market," said Wang Yue, deputy director of the Beijing Municipal Commission of Tourism Development.
Beijing receives some 5 million foreign visitors every year. The number is expected to double in three years as a result of the policy, city officials said.
"On average, overseas visitors stay in Beijing for three days and four nights, and their personal spending is about US$1,000, twice the amount spent by domestic visitors," Wang said.
Xu Jianqiang, chief economist at Air China, said he believed more foreign visitors would go sightseeing and hold business events in the capital city.
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