Tours specialist Wendy Wu has seen a 35% rise in enquiries for China after the country confirmed visa-free entry for British tourists, which takes effect from tomorrow (17 February).
UK passport holders will be allowed to stay in China for up to 30 days without a visa, up until the end of this year.
Wendy Wu Head of Trade Sales Gary King said: “The confirmation of visa-free travel for UK passport holders until the end of this year represents a significant commercial opportunity for the travel trade.
“Since the initial announcement last month, we’ve seen a 35% year-on-year increase in enquiries for China, alongside a clear uplift in bookings as traveller confidence has returned.”
Gary said that removing the visa requirement ‘eliminates one of the final hurdles customers had been hesitating over’.
“It makes China feel more straightforward and immediately accessible again,” he added.
“While the policy is currently confirmed until 31 December, that clarity creates a strong booking window for agents to capitalise on. Customers now have certainty for travel throughout this year, and we expect demand to accelerate as awareness grows.”
Wendy Wu said the majority of bookings for China are made four to eight months in advance, so most of its customers booking over the next few weeks will be planning to travel this year and won’t need a visa.
“For 2027 departures, it’s still very early in the booking cycle,” added a spokesperson.
“Importantly, Wendy Wu Tours has always managed China visa applications in-house through our dedicated visa team, taking care of the entire process for our customers. So even prior to this announcement, the visa requirement was never a practical hurdle for those travelling with us – and it won’t be in the future either, should the policy revert.”
