春节假期出入境游火爆：中国“免签朋友圈”再增两国，冬奥会带火意大利游

Core Viewpoint - China will implement a visa-free policy for ordinary passport holders from Canada and the UK starting February 17, 2026, allowing stays of up to 30 days for business, tourism, family visits, and transit, which is expected to boost travel demand during the Chinese New Year and beyond [1]. Group 1: Visa Policy Impact - The visa-free policy aligns with China's recent trend towards visa facilitation, enhancing travel experiences for UK and Canadian citizens during the Chinese New Year [1]. - The policy is anticipated to stimulate travel from these countries, particularly benefiting the Chinese tourism sector and facilitating family visits for overseas Chinese [1][2]. Group 2: Travel Booking Trends - Flight bookings from London to various Chinese cities, such as Chongqing and Nanjing, have seen over a 60% increase year-on-year during the Chinese New Year period, indicating a strong demand from overseas Chinese and tourists [2]. - The travel platform Tongcheng expects a surge in visitors from the UK and Canada, which will drive consumption in major Chinese tourist cities [2]. Group 3: Inbound Tourism Growth - The visa-free policy is viewed as a significant advantage for major Chinese cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou, likely leading to an increase in international business travel and related sectors such as high-end hotels and exhibitions [3]. - Data shows a nearly 20% year-on-year increase in domestic flight bookings by non-Chinese passport holders on the first day of the Chinese New Year, with notable growth in destinations like Sanya and Harbin [4]. Group 4: Broader Tourism Trends - The number of tourists from Australia and Spain has tripled year-on-year, while visitors from France and Italy have more than doubled, reflecting a broader recovery in inbound tourism [6]. - The extended Chinese New Year holiday has also fueled outbound tourism, with significant increases in bookings to popular destinations like Thailand and Hong Kong [6].