Local time on the evening of May 4, Juan Carlos García, the Minister of Tourism of Cuba, announced a significant policy at the closing ceremony of the 2024 Cuba Tourism Festival - from that day forward, Chinese citizens holding ordinary passports will be able to enter Cuba without a visa. This move aims to further strengthen economic and trade relations between China and Cuba, especially promoting the vibrant development of Cuba's tourism industry.
It is reported that the Cuban government will implement a visa-free policy for Chinese citizens holding ordinary passports entering and transiting Cuba with a stay of no more than 90 days. Since the announcement of this policy, it has attracted widespread attention from the tourism industry. In a short time after the news release, the search popularity of keywords such as Cuban hotels and air tickets on major tourism platforms has increased sharply, with a daily growth rate of over 40%. Tourists from Beijing, Shanghai, Guangdong, and other regions have expressed that Cuba's visa-free policy has made their travel plans more flexible and convenient. In addition, direct flights between China and Cuba will resume on May 17, providing more convenient transportation for tourists from both countries.
As a bright pearl in the Caribbean region, Cuba attracts tourists from all over the world with its unique culture, history, and natural scenery. The implementation of the visa-free policy will undoubtedly provide more opportunities for Chinese tourists to explore Cuba. From the old town of Havana to the beautiful beaches of Trinidad, from cigar factories to historical castles, every corner of Cuba is filled with stories and charm. It is worth mentioning that the Cuban government has also announced that China will be the guest country of honor at the 2025 Cuba Tourism Festival, which will undoubtedly further enhance cooperation and exchanges in the tourism field between China and Cuba.
With the implementation of Cuba's visa-free policy, the number of visa-free countries for China is increasing. It is understood that China has now reached mutual visa-free agreements with 157 countries. These agreements cover different passport types, with 23 countries achieving comprehensive mutual visa-free agreements. In addition, more than 60 countries and regions offer visa-free or visa-on-arrival treatment to Chinese citizens. This "two-way" visa-free policy not only strengthens cooperation and exchanges between countries, but also provides more convenient travel opportunities for ordinary people. Furthermore, the mutual visa-free agreement between China and Georgia has been in effect since May 28, 2024, allowing holders of valid ordinary passports from either country to enter, exit, or transit the other country without a visa, subject to certain stay duration conditions.