China has taken bold steps to reopen its borders to foreign tourists, now allowing citizens from 74 countries to enter visa-free for up to 30 days—a sharp expansion from previous regulations aimed at boosting tourism, the economy, and global influence.
1Yet notably absent from this list are all major African nations, despite the continent’s longstanding ties with Beijing.
Since relaxing COVID-19 restrictions and reopening in early 2023, China has seen a steady increase in foreign visitors.
Last year, over 20 million tourists entered without visas, nearly triple the number in 2023, according to the National Immigration Administration.
Yet this remains far from pre-pandemic levels when nearly 32 million tourists visited.
“I’m practically overwhelmed with tours and struggling to keep up,” says Gao Jun, a veteran English-speaking tour guide with over 20 years’ experience.
To meet demand, he has launched a training program for new English-speaking guides.
“I simply can’t manage all this on my own.”
China’s phased visa waiver program began in late 2023, initially covering France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Malaysia.
Since then, nearly all European countries have been added, along with select Latin American and Middle Eastern nations. The list will reach 75 countries on July 16 with the addition of Azerbaijan.
“The new visa policies are completely beneficial for us,” says Jenny Zhao, general manager of luxury travel company WildChina. “Our business has grown 50% compared to pre-pandemic.”
The U.S. remains their largest market, with Europe now accounting for 15–20% of clientele, up from less than 5% before 2019.
Trip.com Group, a major Shanghai-based travel agency, reported a doubling of flight and hotel bookings to China in the first quarter of 2025, with 75% of tourists arriving from visa-exempt countries.
Yet the absence of major African countries from this visa-free scheme has drawn criticism. Despite deep economic and diplomatic ties, no African nation currently qualifies.
Travelers from ten countries excluded from the visa waiver, including the U.S., UK, Canada, and Russia, can still transit visa-free for up to 10 days when en route elsewhere, but this is a more limited option.
Relations with some countries, such as Sweden, remain strained following political incidents, including the imprisonment of Swedish bookseller Gui Minhai—a factor behind Sweden’s omission from the 30-day visa waiver.
China’s visa liberalization signals a clear prioritization of certain regions over others, leaving many to question when African travelers might benefit from similar openness amid Beijing’s global ambitions.
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