Australia has become the latest country to issue 10-year multiple entry visas for Chinese nationals. Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said a few pilot programs are being carried out, and it's hoped the new visa policy will soon be extended to all eligible Chinese travellers.
More sun for Chinese travellers and what travel business executives in Australia call a "game changer".
Australia introduces 10-year multiple entry visas for Chinese nationals... and it hopes the change will boost the country's tourism industry.
Last year, the Land Down Under welcomed over 800 thousand Chinese visitors, a huge boost to local economy.
"Many countries have relaxed their visa policies for Chinese travellers. For example, some countries like South Korea, Australia, the US, and Singapore extended the visas from five years to ten years," Tourism industry expert Zhang CHuanbo said.
South Korea began issuing ITS 10-year multiple entry visas to Chinese tourists in January.
But this new visa policy is exclusive to specialized professionals such as lawyers or professors and people with a Master's degree or above.
An estimated 80 million potential applicants will be eligible for the new multiple entry visas.
Seoul is hoping the new policy will attract more Chinese tourists to the country... and that they will spend more.
At the same time, countries like Singapore, Thailand, Japan, and Vietnam have all simplified the visa application process for Chinese citizens.