Wendy Wu Tours and Transindus expect a greater Chinese response after the confirmation of visa-free entry for British tourists, which is set to take effect tomorrow (February 17), according to international media. Holders of UK passports will be allowed to stay in China for up to 30 days without a visa until the end of the year.
The revised visa regulations for UK travellers are expected to help tour operators attract a broader customer base. However, an official announcement from the Chinese government stated that the eased measures will initially remain in place only until 31 December 2026. In January, the UK government confirmed that China intends to waive visa requirements for visits of up to 30 days.
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.”
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.
Recent new tours in the country include major attractions such as the Great Wall and Shanghai, but also lesser-known attractions such as Zhangjiajie, which is said to be the inspiration for the movie Avatar, and the futuristic cyber city of Chongqing. Another new tour, Chongqing: China’s City of Tomorrow, includes Chinese medicine, but also provides access to the backstage of a car factory with production lines that are largely operated by robots and OPPO, the fifth largest smartphone manufacturer in the world, according to information from Travel Weekly. 
