ASIA PACIFIC. In a highly positive move for tourism and the travel retail sector, China and Singapore will begin their 30-day mutual visa exemption agreement on 9 February, just a day before Chinese New Year is celebrated.
As The Straits Times reported, under the deal signed today by officials from both sides, ordinary passport holders from China and Singapore will be allowed to travel visa-free to both countries and stay for up to 30 days.
The agreement was initially discussed during a high-level meeting between Singapore Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong and Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang in Tianjin, China, on 7 December.
The policy is part of ongoing efforts by both countries to deepen cultural and educational exchanges.
In a written reply on 9 January by Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong to a parliamentary question, he said that the visa exemption scheme will “increase Singapore’s attractiveness as a tourist destination for Chinese visitors, and boost visitor arrivals and spending in Singapore across the retail, F&B and related sectors in the tourism industry”.
The scheme also takes place as Singapore is hoping to attract more travellers from Mainland China after borders started reopening earlier in 2023 after stringent post-pandemic related restrictions.
Citing official data, The Straits Times reported that Singapore welcomed more than 3.5 million visitors from China in 2019. However, from January to November 2023, only 1.23 million Chinese tourists have visited the city state. ✈
