On May 1, mainland Chinese tourists flocked to the Avenue of Stars in Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong. [ANDY CHONG/CHINA DAILY]
VFS Global, a leading global visa application outsourcing and technology services provider, said visa applications in China are expected to see a strong recovery this year thanks to increased international flight capacity and relaxed visa policies for Chinese tourists.
VFS Global said visa application volumes in the first four months have already reached 73% of pre-COVID levels, driven by rising travel demand, and this year are projected to be around 70% of 2019 levels.
Demand for Schengen visas remains high, with Germany and Italy often being preferred destinations. “Canada, the UK and the US are also very popular destinations for Chinese residents,” said Kishen Singh, chief operating officer for mainland China, Hong Kong and Mongolia at VFS Global.
Kishen Singh
He said visa applications from Chinese travellers to Britain and Canada had almost recovered to about 98 percent and 92 percent respectively from January to April, roughly the same level as the same period in 2019, while Germany was 16 percent higher.
Apart from long holidays such as May Day and National Day, it remains a peak period for visa applications due to summer vacations and international students preparing to study abroad, Singh said, adding that he was optimistic about the prospects for a recovery in international travel this year.
Currently, VFS Global has over 400 visa application centres in 15 cities across China, serving 34 client governments. The company manages the non-judgmental and administrative work of visa and passport applications, as well as consular work, for the governments it serves, but is not involved in the decision-making process of issuing or refusing visas.
To meet growing demand for international travel, the company is stepping up investments in renovating and expanding its visa application centres across China.
Singh noted that before the pandemic, group travel was mainly for large groups, but now there are more small groups and people want to experience more diverse destinations and enjoy higher quality services.
In addition, personalized value-added visa application services such as “Get Visa at Home” and “VIP Lounge Service” are also becoming increasingly popular among applicants.
The majority of visa applications come from Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou in Guangdong province, with demand also growing in smaller cities, he added. “In terms of visa services, Chinese travellers are increasingly willing to pay for personalised, customised and convenient services.”
According to the Civil Aviation Administration of China, international scheduled passenger flights have resumed to about 73% of pre-pandemic levels.
The number of Chinese outbound tourists last year exceeded 87 million, and is expected to reach 130 million by 2024, according to a report released by the China Tourism Academy.
With international flights resuming and visas being issued, Chinese nationals have a strong desire to travel to European countries and spend money on luxury trips, Xin said.
He stressed that the younger Chinese generation tends to place more importance on the “purpose” rather than the “destination” when it comes to overseas travel, and they want to experience different cultures.
He said a combination of holidays, concerts, sporting events and medical and healthcare services were driving overseas travel, and suggested applicants should apply for visas in advance to avoid delays in visa processing during peak seasons.
The country’s outbound travel has shown a strong recovery since the beginning of the year, and experts say Chinese tourists’ spending will be more diversified during their overseas trips this year.
He added that the surge in international travel is a testament to China’s revitalized consumption and is playing an important role in boosting domestic demand and stimulating overall economic growth.
China’s outbound travel sector is expected to make a strong recovery this year, which will provide a strong impetus for the prosperity of the country’s tourism sector, said Dai Bin, president of the China Tourism Academy, adding that Chinese tourists’ enthusiasm for overseas travel has led to a surge in visa applications.
