Visa-Free Policies Drive Surge in China-Southeast Asia Tourism

Recent visa-free policies between China and several countries have significantly boosted international travel, with Chinese tourists showing strong demand for outbound trips and attracting reciprocal interest from foreign visitors. Singapore Airlines has experienced steady growth in passenger demand on routes between Singapore and China, planning to expand further over the next 10 to 20 years while noting increased travel from second-tier Chinese cities. Chinese travelers are also shifting preferences towards niche and immersive experiences abroad, with destinations like Japan, Europe, and Southeast Asia seeing soaring interest during the upcoming Golden Week holiday. South Korea's new visa-free policy for Chinese group tourists has led to a notable rebound in travel demand, with Korean Air reporting a 10 percentage point increase in load factors on China-Korea routes and expectations of continued growth. Additionally, China's National Immigration Administration highlighted that visa-free entries comprised about two-thirds of international arrivals in the first eight months of 2025, with ASEAN countries such as Malaysia contributing heavily to this surge. These developments underscore a broader trend of expanding travel facilitated by eased visa restrictions and growing consumer interest in diverse global destinations.