New travel agreement aims to boost connectivity and tourism post-pandemic
In early 2024, Singapore and China will begin offering 30-day visa-free travel between the two countries, aiming to enhance their growing travel and economic ties. This move follows a 2023 meeting between Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong of Singapore and Chinese Executive Vice-Premier Ding Xuexiang in Tianjin as part of the Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC).
This new visa exemption builds on the 15-day visa-free facility that China reinstated for Singaporean travelers in July 2023, after suspending it during the pandemic. With the new arrangement, officials hope to foster travel and tourism, aiming to surpass pre-pandemic levels in both sectors.
As of 2023, about 1.13 million visitors from China visited Singapore. However, this number still falls short of the 3.63 million visitors recorded in 2019. Despite this, Singapore has seen a strong rebound in tourism, particularly from China, with Chinese visitor numbers more than doubling in the June to July period.
The introduction of visa-free travel is part of a broader effort to further strengthen the bilateral relationship between Singapore and China, especially in light of the evolving geopolitical landscape and economic challenges. Both nations are also working to expand cooperation in emerging areas such as the green and digital economies.
During the meetings, Deputy Prime Minister Wong emphasized the importance of deepening Singapore’s ties with China and working towards mutual benefits in trade, investment, and technology, marking a new chapter in their evolving partnership.
Wong’s trip to China is part of a larger official visit, where he also met with Chinese Premier Li Qiang in Beijing to discuss ongoing bilateral cooperation and economic strategies.
