Government Policy
The Ministry of Culture and Tourism of China and the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) jointly issued the “Action Plan for the Integrated Development of Culture and Tourism and the Civil Aviation Industry” on 3 December 2025. The plan aims to promote synergy between the culture and tourism sector and civil aviation, and to actively stimulate culture and tourism consumption.
Key actions include:
• Enhancing travel service quality: improving facilitation measures for inbound tourism (e.g. immediate tax refund, foreign language information and guidance); creating a barrier free environment for the elderly travelers, strengthening safe and convenient transport services for educational tours, improving the travel experience for family travel; and reinforcing safety and cold-weather measures for winter tourism.
• Improving air routes and service facilities: enhancing accessibility for domestic travel, expanding inbound international routes, and upgrading airport service facilities.
• Deepening cross sector integration: developing aviation themed tourism products and optimizing regulations for low altitude tourism.
• Creating an enabling environment for integrated development: building communication and cooperation mechanisms, strengthening policy support and safeguards, and enhancing promotion and public communication.
Statistical Analysis and Outlook
Release of the “2024–2025 Cross-Border Tourism Consumption Trends Report”
The World Tourism Alliance (WTA) released the “2024 2025 Cross border Tourism Consumption Trends Report” on 19 November 2025, based on a combination of cross-border booking data from Trip.com Group and consumption data from Mastercard.
The report projects that the number of global cross border tourists will increase by around 3–5% year on year (YoY) in 2025, with China’s outbound tourism expected to show a clear shift toward short haul destinations and experience oriented travel.
The report also notes that China’s expanding visa-free entry policies will further strengthen its competitiveness in attracting inbound visitors, and suggests that China and the wider Asia region are likely to consolidate their position as key hubs in the global tourism market.
Release of the “Report on the Development of Self-Driving and Camping Tourism in China (2024-2025)”
According to the “Report on the Development of Self-Driving and Camping Tourism in China” released by the China Tourism Automobile and Cruise Association (CTACA) in November 2025, the number of self-driving tourists in 2024 reached 4.35 billion, marking an increase of 750 million compared to the previous year.
In 2024, the average expenditure per person for self-driving trips was approximately 1,240 yuan. This spending accounts for about 40% of total expenses and includes costs for tolls, energy, maintenance, and emergency rescue service.
International Civil Aviation Passenger Volume in China Increases 10.8% YoY in October 2025
According to data from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), the number of civil aviation passengers in October reached 67.835 million, a 10.8% increase compared to the same month last year. From January to October 2025, the cumulative passenger volume reached 650 million, representing a 5.3% year-on-year growth. The recovery of international routes continues to be robust, maintaining a steady upward trend in demand for overseas travel.
Other Trends
[Russia] Implementation of Visa-Free Entry for Chinese Citizens, Establishing Reciprocal Visa-Free Travel Between China and Russia
According to an announcement on 1 December 2025, holders of valid Chinese regular passports may enter Russia visa-free for up to 30 days from 1 December 2025 to 14 September 2026. Based on a prior announcement by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, holders of Russian ordinary passports are also permitted to enter China visa-free for up to 30 days from 15 September 2025 to 14 September 2026, establishing a period of reciprocal visa-free travel between the two countries.
Following the announcement, searches related to Russia on the Chinese Online Travel Agency (OTA) Tong Cheng more than doubled, with Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, and Harbin identified by the top five cities with the highest growth in search volume. Additionally, data from another OTA, Fliggy, showed that searches for flight tickets to Russia surged more than eightfold compared to the previous day, while booking rates increased approximately fivefold.
[Cambodia] Planned Implementation of Visa Waiver Policy for Chinese Citizens
On December 2, the Cambodian government announced that holders of valid Chinese regular passports will be allowed to enter Cambodia visa free for up to 14 days, effective from June 15, 2026, to October 15, 2026.
Following this announcement, data from the OTA Qunar showed a significant surge in interest; flight searches from Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen to Phnom Penh increased by 5.2, 4.3, and 3 times respectively compared to the previous hour. Additionally, searches for flights departing from Guangzhou and Xiamen more than doubled.
[India] Full Resumption of Tourist Visa Issuance for Chinese Citizens
On November 22 2025, the Indian government announced the full resumption of tourist visa issuance for Chinese citizens after a five-year hiatus. This move is viewed as a further step toward normalizing bilateral exchanges, following the agreement reached in January 2025 to resume direct flights between the two countries.
Tourism Scope 