China allows cruise tourists 15-day visa-free entry

The policy, which took effect on Wednesday, requires foreign passengers to enter through one of 13 designated cities, Xinhua News Agency reported citing a source from the National Immigration Administration.

The cities are Tianjin, Shanghai, Lianyungang, Wenzhou, Zhoushan, Xiamen, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Haikou, Sanya, and Mao Xu.

Cruise passengers must be part of a group of at least two and on a tour organized by a Chinese travel agency, CNBC reported.

China received 13.1 million foreign visitors in the first quarter of this year, a year-on-year increase of 305%.

It is striving to revive its tourism industry after the long border closure due to the pandemic.

It recently extended the visa waiver for nationals of Malaysia and 11 European countries until the end of next year.