Foreign tourists from 45 countries, including South Africa, will be able to enjoy a 72-hour visa-free stay in Beijing from January 1, the city’s government has announced.
The policy is aimed at making Beijing more accessible and is expected to attract more overseas travellers. However, visitors without a visa will not be allowed to travel outside the capital once they arrive. Doing so would be deemed illegal entry, the government said.
In addition, the government of India has lifted restrictions on tourist visas that were implemented after the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
The rule required tourists to wait for two months between visits to India, and is believed to have deterred regular visitors to the country and also complicate regional travel.
A statement from the government said: “It has been decided to lift the restriction of the two-month gap on re-entry of foreign nationals coming to India, except in case of nationals of Afghanistan, China, Iran, Pakistan, Iraq, Sudan, Bangladesh, foreigners of Pakistan and Bangladesh origin and stateless persons.”
Beijing, India visa changes
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