Frasco expecting more Chinese tourists due to 14-day visa-free entry

LAPU-LAPU CITY, Cebu - Tourism Secretary Cristina Frasco is expecting an increase in the number of Chinese tourists in the country after they were granted a 14-day visa-free entry.

Frasco told reporters that Chinese tourists have contributed to the country's tourism sector even before the pandemic.

''We know the dependency of the Philippines as far as source markets are concerned, with China contributing greatly prior to the pandemic. To be perfectly honest, it has been very difficult to fully recover the numbers of the country, without the Chinese market which is why we are grateful to our President who has directed, by way of the Department of Foreign Affairs, the institution of visa-free travel coming into the country,'' Frasco said.

''We expect na dahil visa free na po 'yung China papunta dito sa Pilipinas eh mas dadami pa po 'yung mga Chinese tourists natin,'' she added.

Under the new policy, Chinese nationals may enter the Philippines without the requirement of obtaining a visa for a stay of up to 14 days, the Department of Foreign Affairs said.

“This is in line with the President’s directive to facilitate trade, investments, and tourism, as well as strengthen people-to-people exchanges between the Philippines and China,” the DFA said in a statement.

Such visa-free entry arrangement will be in effect for one year and will be reviewed accordingly before it expires.

The visa-free privilege will be valid for entry only through the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Metro Manila and the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) in Cebu. — BAP, GMA Integrated News