JUST IN: In 2025, China received 82 million arrivals by foreign nationals, up by 26.4% year on year. “We welcome the world with open arms.”
Beijing – April 3, 2026 | Reflecto News
China recorded 82 million arrivals by foreign nationals in 2025, marking a robust 26.4% year-on-year increase, according to official data from the National Immigration Administration. The strong rebound in inbound travel was driven largely by expanded visa-free policies, with over 73% of international visitors benefiting from visa exemptions or visa-free transit programs.
The phrase “We welcome the world with open arms” has been widely used by Chinese officials and embassies to highlight the country’s push for greater openness and people-to-people exchanges.
Key Highlights from 2025 Data
- Total Cross-Border Crossings: China processed a record 697 million inbound and outbound crossings in 2025, up 14.2% from the previous year.
- Foreign Arrivals: Approximately 82 million crossings by foreign nationals, representing a 26.4% surge.
- Visa-Free Impact: Over 30 million foreign nationals entered visa-free, accounting for 73.1% of all foreign arrivals and reflecting a 49.5% increase compared to 2024. This surge was fueled by unilateral visa waivers, extended transit policies (up to 240 hours in more ports), and simplified entry procedures.
- Broader Inbound Tourism: Separate figures from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism indicate inbound tourist trips exceeded 150 million (including multiple entries or short visits), with spending by international travelers surpassing $130 billion, up over 40% year-on-year.
Major cities like Shanghai and Beijing reported even stronger growth, with Shanghai welcoming over 9.36 million inbound visitors (up nearly 40%) and Beijing seeing significant gains in both foreign and regional arrivals.
Drivers Behind the Surge
China’s recovery in inbound tourism and business travel was supported by:
- Aggressive expansion of visa-free access for citizens of dozens of countries.
- Improved flight connectivity and eased entry procedures post-pandemic.
- Targeted promotion of cultural, business, and leisure tourism.
- A broader policy of opening-up to boost economic recovery and global engagement.
Officials emphasized that these measures have not only boosted tourism revenue but also strengthened international ties and people-to-people exchanges.
Global and Economic Context
The 2025 figures represent a significant milestone in China’s post-pandemic reopening. While still below pre-2019 peaks in some categories, the rapid growth signals strong momentum. The data was released amid ongoing global discussions on travel facilitation and comes as many countries continue to ease or adjust entry policies.
Economically, the influx contributed substantially to sectors including hospitality, retail, transportation, and cultural industries.
Reflecto News will continue monitoring further breakdowns by source markets, spending patterns, and any updates on China’s tourism and immigration policies in 2026.
By Reflecto News Desk
Sources: National Immigration Administration of China, Xinhua, People’s Daily, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and official embassy statements.