Kunming Sees Surge in Inbound Tourism Amid China’s Visa-Free Policy Expansion.
Kunming, a city in Yunnan province, has witnessed a significant rise in inbound tourism this year, aligning with the overall trend of increasing foreign travel to China. This growth is largely attributed to the country’s recent expansion of visa-free policies.
Wang Mingyao, deputy director of the Kunming Culture and Tourism Bureau, reported that in the first half of the year, 446,600 foreign tourists visited Kunming. This figure represents a remarkable year-on-year increase of 358.83 percent.
A June report by Trip.com Group, titled “2024 Summer Tourism Market Forecast,” identified Kunming as one of the top 10 domestic cities attracting foreign visitors.
Since the start of the year, China has broadened its visa-free policies, eased visa application requirements, simplified travel procedures, exempted eligible transit passengers from border checks, and enhanced mobile payment services for foreign visitors.
In July, China expanded its 144-hour visa-free transit policy to 37 ports nationwide. Yunnan province alone hosts nine of these ports, including those in Kunming, Lijiang, and Dali.
“Tourists from Southeast Asian countries like Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore have been flocking to Kunming, drawn by the city’s year-round floral displays,” Wang said on Wednesday.
The China-Laos Railway has also played a pivotal role in boosting cross-border tourism to Kunming. The railway connects Kunming to Vientiane in just 10 hours, significantly improving the ease of travel for both inbound and outbound tourists.
“We’ve established strong ties with Thailand and Laos, fostering cooperation between foreign and local travel agencies to ensure smooth tourist transfers. We’re also working on promoting travel for Chinese tourists to Laos and Thailand, while drawing tourists from these regions to Kunming,” Wang elaborated.
Wang also mentioned an increase in visitors from Europe and North America, spurred by the visa-free policies. “Many international travel vloggers have started showcasing our city, and they are impressed by what Kunming has to offer,” she added.
To attract more foreign tourists, Kunming is developing new tourism products tailored to preferences for natural and cultural experiences. These include cycling routes around Dianchi Lake and nature hiking trails in northern Kunming.
“Kunming is committed to promoting high-quality tourism development and accelerating its transformation into a world-renowned leisure and tourism destination,” Wang emphasized.