What will change for tourists
A message was posted on the website of the National Immigration Administration of the People’s Republic of China, which, due to an incorrect translation, was misinterpreted in the Russian media. The tour operator explained the innovations in immigration rules From July 30, tourists from countries with diplomatic relations with China no longer need a visa for a combined visit to Hong Kong or Macau, and then Hainan, the publication says.Only organized tourists can use the preference – you need to go on a trip as part of a tour group of two or more people. Moreover, it is necessary to arrive in Hong Kong or Macau through a tour company registered in these special administrative regions of China.Then you can visit Hainan visa-free and rest there for up to 144 hours (up to 6 days). Entry to the resort island and departure – through any state port, and also only in an organized manner, as part of a group. As Sergey Nazarov, chairman of the board of directors of the China Travel tour operator, said with reference to explanations from Chinese partners, the innovation applies only to citizens of a number of countries for whom the most stringent visa regime applies in China.But this does not apply to residents of 54 countries who either do not need to apply for a visa at all, or there are exemptions (in particular, for Russians – entry to mainland China on group lists, visa–free in Hong Kong and Macau, in addition – in Hainan, but subject to arrival by direct flight from-abroad).Therefore, nothing should change for the citizens of the Russian Federation. Tourists, as before, will not be required to have a visa in Hainan if they enter the resort island from Hong Kong or Macau for up to 30 days, even if they are not part of a tourist group. These cities belong to special administrative regions, and Chinese migration legislation equates arrival from them to Hainan with arrival from abroad. The only condition is that in order to use a visa–free travel, tourists do not have to travel through mainland China.
