Visa-free scheme fuels interest in travel between S'pore and China

More inquiries at agencies, rise in traffic at travel websites since Jan 25 announcement

- Chin Hui Shan and Esther Loi

Tour agencies, travel booking websites and airlines are seeing rising interest in travel between Singapore and China, after it was announced on Jan 25 that both countries will start their mutual 30-day visa-free arrangement on Feb 9.

The agreement will allow citizens of Singapore and China to enter each other’s country without a visa, for a stay of up to 30 days.

This comes just months after China reinstated a 15-day visa-free policy for Singaporeans, following a suspension of more than three years because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The move in July 2023 had led to a rise in demand for travel packages to China, some travel agencies told The Straits Times. The upcoming mutual visa-free scheme has fuelled further interest, they added.

Mr Sherwin Seow, marketing director at ASA Travel, noted an increase of more than 200 per cent in China tour sign-ups between April 2023 – when China began accepting foreign tourists – and January 2024. 

After the announcement of the mutual visa-free agreement, his agency received 30 per cent more inquiries for trips to China within days.

EU Holidays director Ong Han Jie said his agency has been receiving more inquiries from its Chinese counterparts on tour and transport arrangements in Singapore for travellers from China. Since the Jan 25 announcement, it has received up to three inquiries daily, compared with one every four or five days before that, he added.

Most of its China tours last seven or eight days, and there are no plans to organise trips beyond 15 days, according to Mr Ong.

Mr Jeremiah Wong, senior marketing communications manager at Chan Brothers Travel, said bookings have doubled quarter on quarter since April 2023.

The agency saw a 15 per cent increase in weekly bookings throughout January 2024, he added. Most of its China package tours are shorter than 15 days.