The number of passengers to China in visa-free countries such as the UAE and Saudi Arabia increased by more than 50% year-on-year

The number of passengers to China in visa-free countries such as the UAE and Saudi Arabia increased by more than 50% year-on-year

Recently, the visa-free policies implemented by China, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and other countries have achieved remarkable results, and the number of passengers to China has shown explosive growth. According to the latest data from the National Immigration Administration, from January to February 2024, the number of passengers from visa-free countries increased by more than 50% year-on-year, among which Middle Eastern countries such as the UAE and Saudi Arabia contributed the main growth momentum. The following is a detailed data analysis:

Visa-free policy effect is significant, and Middle East passengers become the main force

Starting from December 2023, China has implemented a unilateral visa-free policy to six countries including the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Personnel with ordinary passports can stay in the country without visa for no more than 15 days. After the implementation of the policy, the number of passengers to China in the Middle East has increased rapidly. Taking the UAE as an example, the monthly passenger volume reached 102,000 in January 2024, setting a record high.

It is worth noting that the visa-free policy not only drives the tourism market, but also promotes business exchanges. According to data from the Ministry of Commerce, investment in the Middle East in January 2024 in China increased by 23% year-on-year, and bilateral trade volume increased by 18%.

The distribution of popular destinations shows new features

From the perspective of passenger flow, the itinerary of visa-free national passengers shows the following characteristics:

Air capacity is increased simultaneously

In order to cope with the surge in passenger volume, major airlines have increased the capacity of the Middle East route. The number of flights on major airlines such as China Airlines and China Southern Airlines on Dubai and Riyadh routes increased by 40% compared with the same period last year. Emirates has even encrypted the Dubai-Guangzhou route to two flights per day.

According to the Civil Aviation Administration, with the arrival of the peak tourist season in March, the number of passengers from the Middle East to China will continue to rise, and the overall growth rate in the first quarter is expected to remain above 45%.

Tourism industry actively responds to new opportunities

Faced with the rapid growth of the Middle East customer source market, the domestic tourism industry has quickly adjusted its strategy. Many five-star hotels have added Arabic services, and some scenic spots have launched tourism products that conform to Islamic cultural habits. Ctrip data shows that the number of hotel bookings on the "Middle East Friendly" label in January 2024 increased by 65% ​​month-on-month.

Industry insiders said that the continued effect of visa-free policy will bring structural changes to China's tourism industry. It is expected that by the end of 2024, the Middle East is expected to become the fifth largest source market for inbound tourism in China.

Looking to the future

Experts believe that the positive impact of the visa-free policy will continue to be released. With the deepening of the "Belt and Road" initiative, China's connectivity with Middle Eastern countries will become closer. In the next step, relevant departments will focus on improving service quality, optimizing customs clearance processes, and creating a better experience for travelers to China.

It can be foreseen that driven by the dual driving of policy dividends and market potential, China's personnel exchanges with Middle Eastern countries will usher in a new golden period of development. This trend will not only promote the development of the tourism industry, but will also inject new vitality into bilateral economic and trade cooperation.