China Adds UK and Canada to 30-Day Visa-Free Entry Scheme
Corporate Alert: What China’s UK/Canada Visa Waiver Means for Mobility Compliance
Spring Festival Travel Boom Pushes Daily Cross-Border Traffic Above 2 Million, Says NIA
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Inbound Tourism Doubles Under Visa-Free Policies as Holiday Spending Hits New Highs
A BRNN data deep-dive shows inbound tourist numbers doubled over the Spring Festival, with 460,000 arrivals entering visa-free. Combined with record domestic spending, the trend underscores China’s success in using relaxed entry policies to stimulate both consumption and international engagement.
Mass Flight Disruptions on 26 February Strand Travellers Across China’s Major Hubs
On 26 February, China logged 857 flight delays and 22 cancellations across major and regional airports, paralysing travel plans for business and leisure passengers alike. The widespread disruption underscores ongoing capacity and weather-management challenges in the mainland’s aviation network.
China logs 17.8 million cross-border trips over Spring Festival; visa-free entries up 28%
The NIA says 17.8 million cross-border trips were recorded during the 2026 Spring Festival, up 10 percent on last year, with visa-free arrivals surging 28 percent. The jump follows China’s extension of 30-day visa-free entry to Canada and the UK on 17 February and wider use of the 240-hour transit waiver. Faster entry and more gateways mean easier, short-notice travel for global companies, but higher peak-season costs.
UK’s Electronic Travel Authorisation goes live: Chinese visitors now need digital clearance before boarding
As of 25 February 2026, all Chinese nationals travelling to the UK visa-free must hold a pre-approved £16 Electronic Travel Authorisation. Airlines will deny boarding without it, turning the UK into a fully digital ‘permission-to-travel’ jurisdiction. The requirement adds an online step to every short-term assignment or meeting and demands new compliance checks by corporate travel managers.
Shanghai introduces online arrival card as inbound traffic hits post-pandemic high
Shanghai said on 25 February that inbound passenger flows have rebounded to 1.16 million over the Spring Festival and that 65 percent of foreign entries were visa-free. To handle the surge, the city launched a mobile arrival-card system and a 24-hour immigration hotline, shaving minutes off every passport inspection—useful time savings for tight business itineraries.
South Korea to widen Chinese tour-group visa waiver after Chunyun success
Seoul announced on 25 February that its 15-day visa-free tour-group scheme for mainland Chinese visitors will continue through mid-2026 and be expanded. The waiver makes incentive and dealer trips easier to arrange but still binds travellers to arrive and leave in the same group, so mobility planners must coordinate flights and manifests carefully.
Africa becomes the new frontier for China’s Gen-Z and millennial travellers
Xinhua reports a sharp uptick in young Chinese choosing Africa for independent travel, lured by visa-friendly entry rules and adventure appeal. The move diversifies China’s outbound map and raises new duty-of-care and insurance considerations for employers whose staff combine work and leisure on the continent.
250 000 Chinese tourists chose Thailand over Korea during Lunar New Year, data show
Data cited on 25 February show Thailand drew about 250 000 Chinese holidaymakers over the Spring Festival, edging Korea into second place while Japanese arrivals halved amid political friction. The shift signals changing risk-reward equations for corporate event planners and could push up prices on key Thai routes.