51 Countries' Foreign Tourists Enjoy 72-hour Transit Visa Exemption in Harbin China

The reporter learned from the Harbin Frontier Inspection Station yesterday that the State Council has approved policy for the implementation of a 72-hour transit visa exemption for foreign nationals form 51 countries at the point of entry of Harbin Airport, which means that Harbin has become the third city to implement 72-hour transit visa exemptions in Northeast China following Shenyang and Dalian. It is learned that this policy will be implemented in a month at the soonest.

The so-called transit visa exemption means that a tourist that comes from a foreign country and goes to a third country via China can transit without the need to apply for a transit visa and can have a short stay in the transit country (in this case, China). It is learned that citizens from the 51 countries can stay in the administrative precincts of Harbin City for 72 hours without applying for a China visa as long as they hold valid international travel documents and air tickets for a connecting flight with confirmed date of flight and a seat for a third country (region).

"Harbin's implementation of the 72-hour transit visa exemption policy will help publicize Harbin, a Chinese city with a unique European style to the whole world. The foreigners that transit via Harbin and apply for the visa exemption policy will naturally have a desire to have a look at this city and learn about the local customs of this city. As long as they choose to transit via Harbin, the chance of their travelling to Harbin will greatly increase." said Yang Hong, associate professor of Tourism Management of the Economic Management School of Harbin University.

It is reported that Harbin Airport has opened up international scheduled passenger flights to Russia, Japan, South Korea, etc. a total of 13 flight routes. Last year, Harbin received nearly 290,000 inbound passengers.

Wang Jing, Director of Tourism Research Institute of Harbin Academy of Social Sciences says that the 72-hour transit visa exemption policy is a city's internationalization indicator. This 72-hour transit visa exemption policy will allow foreign tourists and businessmen to enter Harbin, which will promote the inbound tourism development of Harbin, stimulate the consumption involved in catering, shopping, accommodation and food, greatly improve the international transit competitiveness of Harbin Airport and increase the number of international transit passengers of airlines. Relevant departments should perfect Harbin’s supporting facilities involving accommodation, transportation and scenic areas and launch distinctive tourist products.

Key Notice：51 Countries Enjoying the 72-Hour Transit Visa Exemption

> 24 Schengen countries in Europe
Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Holland, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

> 13 other European countries
Russia, United Kingdom, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia, Montenegro, Macedonia and Albania

> 6 American countries
The United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina and Chile.

> 2 Oceanian countries
Australia and New Zealand

> 6 Asian countries
South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, United Arab Emirates, and Qatar.