Beijing mulls over visa-free entry for tourists

Beijing authorities are reportedly considering allowing foreign tourists a 72-hour window to explore the Chinese capital without a visa.

Beijing public security director Fu Zhenghua, according to the China Daily, has confirmed that authorities are mulling over the move, saying it would represent a crucial sign that Beijing is open to the world.

Another official, Lin Song at the public security bureau’s exit-entry administration, has said, “It’s expected that the project will attract more tourists from abroad.”

The Beijing Tourism Development Committee (BTDC) is said to have proposed the policy. However, neither the BTDC nor the Beijing public security bureau has given more details about the new policy. Tourism analysts in Beijing expect, however, that the visa-free policy is going to be similar to ones already being run in Shanghai (48 hours) and South China’s Hainan province (21 days for tour groups).