Chinese residents made 60 million trips last year: ministry

Wednesday 10th of January 2018

The number of trips made abroad by mainland Chinese residents is estimated to be more than 60 million in 2017, according to Guo Shaochun, director general of the Foreign Ministry's Department of Consular Affairs, ECNS reports.

Speaking at a news conference in Beijing on Wednesday, Guo said that around 1 million Chinese went to work abroad, while 1.4 million Chinese students studied abroad.

More than 30,000 enterprises were established overseas by Chinese residents and businesses last year, he said.

Speaking about travel visas, Guo noted that Chinese citizens can now travel to 65 countries and regions visa-free, with the United Arab Emirates set to become the next region opening its doors.

The upcoming visa exemption measure is expected to benefit around 4.5 million Chinese travelers that either enter the country or pass by in transit.

A recent report released by Research and Markets, shed more light into Chinese resident travel.

According to the firm, the number of Chinese travellers to Korea fell more than 40 percent in 2017, while travellers to Taiwan have also dwindled in 2016 and 2017.

China however continues to rank top in terms of number of visitor arrivals to Hong Kong, and is the largest source market for Taiwan.

The report also noted that visa requirements for Chinese travellers visiting Japan were eased in 2017.

Chinese Outbound Traveller Trip