China and Australia have taken a significant step towards enhancing travel and business opportunities by introducing mutual five-year multiple-entry visas for citizens of each other.
Immediately after the agreement between the two countries was reached on June 21, searches for flight tickets and hotels, among others, for Australia surged more than 200 percent on Chinese travel site Tongcheng Travel, VisaGuide.World reports.
Until now, Australia has issued visas to Chinese nationals for up to one year, with options of up to ten years. The new agreement reflects efforts to increase travel convenience and deepen economic and cultural exchanges between the two countries.
Likewise, reciprocal access to multi-entry visas of up to three to five years’ duration will provide Australian companies with greater flexibility to support the development of their China business.
Australian Travelers Can Enter China Without Visas for up to 15 Days
During a milestone trip by China’s Premier Li Qiang to Australia last week, he also revealed that his country included Australia in its visa waiver scheme, allowing Australians to visit the country for up to 15 days without a visa. Following the new measures, Australians can save about $110 on their current tourist visa.
With the new visa agreement in place, Australian tourists now have the opportunity to explore more of China’s rich cultural heritage. Popular destinations such as Shanghai, Beijing, Chengdu, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen are just a visa away, offering a diverse and immersive travel experience.
China-Australia Flights Reached Almost 80% of Pre-Pandemic Levels in June Alone
In addition to visa policies, the number of direct flights is crucial for travel between the two countries. This year, the figures for direct flights between China and Australia have steadily increased.
In the first half of this month, there were 471 direct flights between the two countries, averaging about 31 flights per day. This represents nearly 80 percent of the pre-pandemic level, with 599 flights over the same period.
Specifically, ten airlines are operating direct flights between China and Australia, with Chinese airlines dominating, accounting for nine out of the ten. The only non-Chinese airline operating between the two countries is Qantas. Moreover, five Chinese airlines, including China Eastern and Xiamen Airlines, have restored or even exceeded their pre-pandemic flight capacities.
China Has Dropped Visa Requirements for Several Countries
Since last year, China has begun progressively enforcing entry requirements for visitors from various countries, aiming to ease international travel after imposing strict COVID-19 restrictions for three years, effectively closing its borders.
It has implemented unilateral visa-free policies for multiple countries, including those as follows:
- France
- Germany
- Italy
- Netherlands
- Spain
- Switzerland
- Ireland
- Hungary
- Austria
- Belgium
- Luxembourg
Additionally, China has achieved mutual visa exemption agreements with countries such as Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, and Georgia.