SINGAPORE – Since the announcement on January 25 that the two countries would begin a mutual 30-day visa-free agreement on February 9, travel agents, travel booking websites and airlines have increased the number of restrictions on travel between Singapore and China. Interest is growing.
The agreement allows citizens of Singapore and China to enter each other’s countries without a visa for stays of up to 30 days.
This comes just months after China reinstated its 15-day visa-free policy for Singaporeans after more than three years of suspension due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Some travel companies told The Straits Times that the July 2023 move has increased demand for travel packages to China. They added that the upcoming reciprocal visa-free scheme will further increase interest.
Sherwin Seo, marketing director at ASA Travel, noted that applications for China tours increased by more than 200 percent between April 2023, when China began accepting foreign tourists, and January 2024. did.
After announcing the mutual visa waiver agreement, his agency saw a 30 percent increase in inquiries about travel to China within days.
Mr Ong Han Jie, director of EU Holidays, said the agency has been receiving increasing inquiries from Chinese representatives about arranging tours and transportation in Singapore for Chinese travelers. Since the announcement on January 25, inquiries have been up to three a day, compared to one every four or five days before that, he added.
Ong said most China tours last seven or eight days, and there are no plans to organize trips longer than 15 days.
Jeremiah Wong, senior marketing communications manager at Chan Brothers Travel, said that since April 2023, bookings have doubled quarter-on-quarter.
The agency added that it has seen a 15% increase in weekly bookings through January 2024. Most of the company’s China package tours are less than 15 days.
Mr Wong said the new 30-day visa-free arrangement could allow the agency to offer more themed holidays, such as a slow travel series for older travelers lasting 14 to 21 days.
Nam Ho Travel has seen a 50% increase in the number of Singaporeans taking China tour packages from July to December 2023 compared to the same period in 2019.
Officials noted that the new visa-free regime could encourage more Chinese tourists to visit Singapore than the other way around.
Currently, Chinese ordinary passport holders must apply for a visa to enter Singapore, but Singaporeans can visit China for up to 15 days without a visa.
Although tourist numbers from China have not returned to pre-pandemic numbers, the Singapore Tourism Board is bullish on recovery.
Before the pandemic, China was Singapore’s biggest source of tourists, reaching a peak of 3.6 million visitors in 2019. In 2023, China accounted for 1.4 million visitors.
Airlines such as low-cost carrier Jetstar Asia also told ST that interest in routes to and from China has increased following the announcement of the reciprocal visa-free scheme.
Jetstar Asia said it may consider increasing the number of flights it flies or exploring new direct flights to meet customer needs.
SIA Group, which includes Singapore Airlines (SIA) and low-cost carrier Scoot, said it continues to see strong demand for services to and from China, but could not provide specific figures citing commercial considerations.
Reservation sites have also reported a spike in site traffic since the January 25th announcement.
A KLOOK spokesperson said the online travel platform saw a 40% increase in page visits from Chinese users searching for things to do in Singapore that day compared to January 24, and a 40% increase in page visits from Chinese users searching for things to do in Singapore on that day. said that the number of user page visits increased by 16%.
According to data from the Singapore Bureau of Statistics, the number of passengers traveling between Singapore and China will rise to nearly 4 million in 2023, equivalent to 54.2% of the 7.3 million in 2019.
China was Changi Airport’s second-largest market in terms of passenger numbers in 2019, rising to sixth place in 2023.
According to statistics from aviation data consultancy OAG, seat capacity on flights between the two countries has returned to 99% of pre-COVID-19 levels.
According to OAG data, the top five cities by number of seats for passengers traveling between China and Singapore in January 2024 are Shanghai, Guangzhou, Beijing, Xiamen, and Hangzhou.