China Is Making It Easier for Americans to Visit — Here’s How

In December, China brought in visa-free entry for citizens of five European countries and Malaysia. 

China is addressing the bottlenecks that have restricted outbound travel from the country. But the enthusiasm among Chinese travelers to visit the U.S. is diminishing, according to the latest survey from China Trading Desk, a marketing technology company.

Latest flight booking data from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) and its knowledge partner ForwardKeys, shows France is set to keep its pole position as the world’s most popular destination for international arrivals this year. The research reveals a positive outlook for France’s inbound travel, with arrivals set to almost reach pre-pandemic highs this year.

In a landmark achievement, Trip.com Group has been awarded one of the Leading Brands in the 2023 Forbes China Global Brands Selection 30&30 in recognition of its exceptional global growth over the past two decades. Trip.com Group joins the selection in its inaugural year, alongside other industry leaders like automaker BYD, smart home appliance maker Skyworth, and real-time engagement platform developer Agora.io.

Ahead of the new season of PBS' "Samantha Brown's Places to Love," Business Insider asked Travel Channel host Samantha Brown to share the underrated trips she's most excited about this year.

On January 8, 2023, China reopened its borders for travel, ending a three-year closure during the Covid pandemic. Most analysts predicted a surge in travel. It didn’t happen. And one year later, the world is still waiting. 

It’s one of the biggest questions in global tourism: What the hell is happening to tourism from China? It’s a question a lot of us tried to answer throughout 2023 after China reopened – on January 8 – after 3 years of lockdown.

Brazil has pushed back the implementation of its tourist visa requirement for citizens from Australia, Canada and the U.S., according to Embratur, Brazil’s tourism board.

Shanghai Municipal People’s Government launched the beta version of a new online portal (english.shanghai.gov.cn) for expat services on Jan 1.

ONYX Hospitality Group, the prominent management company in Southeast Asia, is expanding its renowned serviced apartment brand, Shama, with five new properties across Asia. The company recognises the increasing demand for serviced apartments, particularly in the post-pandemic era, and is confident that these new additions will meet the needs of business, leisure, and the growing segment of ‘Bleisure’ travellers. The Shama brand is renowned for its commitment to providing contemporary, stylish, and spacious serviced apartments. Acknowledging and responding to the popularity of serviced apartments for both long and shorter stays, across the domestic and international markets, ONYX confidently introduces five new Shama properties: two in China including Hong Kong, two in Malaysia, and one in Thailand, with opening dates set for 2024.

London couple Fiona Evans and Josh Chan knew pretty early into wedding planning that the typical big English celebration wasn’t for them. “We started looking at venues, and in the United Kingdom, they're very expensive and they have a long waiting time—18 months to two years,” says Fiona, who works in tech. “We didn’t really fancy that.”

Visitors to China can have an easier time getting into the continent beginning January 01, 2024. The Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the United States of America released a notice at the end of 2023 stating that the tourist visa (L-Visa) application documents will be simplified. Here’s what travelers should know.