China to Drop Visa Requirement for Select Countries
Skift Take
- China launches a pilot project allowing visa-free travel for visitors from several countries, with Malaysia reciprocating for Chinese and Indian visitors.
- IHG, Accor, SM Hotels, Hilton, and Artyzen Hospitality Group announce new properties and partnerships across Asia.
- The former Palazzo Versace in Australia is up for sale with a $100 million price tag.
The People’s Republic of China launched a one-year pilot project allowing visitors from Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Malaysia to no longer need a tourist visa. This goes along with the introduction of new flights and increased outreach to Western media to praise cultural relations. Currently, 54 countries can now transit to China visa-free.
Malaysia’s Prime Minister announced that visitors from China and India will be granted 30-day visa-free entry from December 1st. The new visa policy follows the one from the Chinese Embassy granting Malaysian visitors to China 15-day visa-free entry for the next 12 months from December 1. Local media in Malaysia are reporting more countries will be added to the temporary visa-free list, with Thailand meetings currently taking place.
The first NH-branded hotel in China, NH Zhengzhou Jinshui, has open
