Foreign Travelers Can Now Enjoy Visa-Free Stays in Hainan Province.
Foreign travelers can now visit Hainan province in mainland China for up to six days without a visa if they enter via Hong Kong or Macau, according to a new arrangement announced by immigration authorities in Beijing. This initiative took effect immediately after being revealed on Tuesday.
Under the new policy, foreigners with standard passports from any country that has diplomatic ties with China can spend up to 144 hours in Hainan without a visa. However, they must join a tour organized by a legally registered travel agency in Hong Kong or Macau.
Beijing maintains diplomatic relations with over 180 countries. Eligible travelers can enter and exit through any entry point in Hainan as part of a tour group, which must include at least two people.
According to the National Immigration Administration, travelers’ activities will be limited to Hainan province, and their duration of stay will begin at midnight on the day following their arrival.
Hainan, often called the “Hawaii of China,” is a popular tourist destination known for its beautiful beaches, seafood, and unique local culture. The Hong Kong government welcomed this new policy, stating it would help integrate the tourism markets of both locations and boost cooperation between them.
Earlier this month, Beijing also expanded its visa-free transit policy to more cities in an effort to increase inbound tourism and attract foreign visitors. Since October, foreign tour groups entering China from Hong Kong or Macau have been allowed to visit 10 cities in Guangdong province under a 144-hour visa-free travel policy.
In February, China broadened its visa-free policy for Hainan to include non-tourism purposes. Passport holders from 59 countries can now visit for up to 30 days for business, visits, medical treatment, and exhibitions.
Timothy Chui Ting-pong, executive director of the Hong Kong Tourism Association, expressed that this new initiative would significantly benefit local travel agencies, especially those focused on inbound tourism. He noted that agencies could now access a much larger global market.
Chui predicted that visitors would likely combine trips to Hong Kong and Hainan in their travel plans. He anticipates a growth of 10 to 20 percent in business for those inbound sectors. “The central government has made a strategic move for Hong Kong,” Chui said.
