【By Observer Network, Deng Jun; Editor: Zhao Qiankun】

On July 23, the Indian Embassy in China announced on its official Weibo account that Chinese citizens can apply for tourist visas to India starting from July 24, 2025. This marks the first time since 2020, when such visa issuance was suspended, that India has resumed issuing tourist visas to Chinese citizens. At the same time, recent measures restricting business visas for Chinese citizens are also expected to be relaxed.

Screenshot of Weibo

At a regular press conference, spokesperson Guo Jia Kun responded to a question from Reuters, stating that China "noted this positive measure" and pointed out that promoting the facilitation of personnel exchanges is in the common interest of all parties. China is willing to maintain communication with India to enhance the convenience of personnel exchanges between the two countries.

On the afternoon of July 23, data from Qunar Index showed that the search volume for flights to Delhi, India, on the Qunar platform spiked instantly, reaching more than ten times the usual level. Among these, the search volume for flights from Hong Kong to Delhi was the highest, with an average tax-inclusive price of 862 yuan.

Jin Zhun, Secretary-General of the Tourism Research Center at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, analyzed to Observer that the resumption of tourist visas for Chinese citizens by India reflects the warming of bilateral diplomatic relations and the stabilization of bilateral ties, as well as India's economic considerations.

Before the pandemic, India had been striving to attract Chinese tourists. In August 2018, then-Indian Minister of Tourism Alfonso told Chinese media that the goal was to "attract at least 1% of Chinese outbound tourists in the short term (perhaps a few years); in the long run, to attract up to 10% of Chinese outbound tourists."

To this end, India began issuing e-tourist visas to Chinese citizens in July 2015, and in October 2019 further relaxed policies by introducing multiple-entry e-tourist visas valid for five years (e-TV).

However, in 2020, India suspended the issuance of tourist visas to Chinese citizens. During the following five years, channels for cultural and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries were severely restricted, flights were interrupted, and not only ordinary tourists found it difficult to travel, but also business visits and academic exchanges came to a near standstill.

In June 2024, Reuters reported that China had called for the resumption of direct flights, which was rejected by India. In October of the same year, two Indian government sources told Reuters that India would consider reopening direct flights between China and India and initiating a fast-track visa approval process.

In September 2024, the Indian news website TimesNowNews reported that the Indian Minister of Culture and Tourism stated at a meeting that India would rank among the top ten global tourist destinations within the next five years, saying, "Our culture will help us become one of the most respected countries in the world."

This visa resumption comes at a time when positive signals are emerging in bilateral relations. Since the beginning of this year, Indian citizens' pilgrimage activities to the sacred mountains and lakes in Tibet, China, have resumed. The Chinese Ambassador to India previously stated that both sides' government departments and major airlines have made substantial preparations for the resumption of direct flights.

With the gradual restoration of direct flights (India's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on June 13 this year that consensus had been reached with China on this matter), and the restart of tourist visas, it is expected to provide new convenience for people-to-people exchanges and bilateral tourism development between China and India.

However, for India's tourism industry to truly welcome the return of Chinese tourists, merely opening up visas may not be sufficient.

Since 2013, multiple countries including China, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Switzerland, South Korea, Spain, and Germany have issued warnings about traveling to India due to safety issues, particularly reminding female travelers to be cautious or avoid traveling alone. According to the National Crime Records Bureau of India, there were 31,516 cases of rape recorded in 2023 (over 86 per day on average).

According to Eturbonews, an American travel website, citing Indian reports, some tourist attractions in India have experienced sexual violence and other violent crimes, and there is a risk of terrorist attacks, with targets possibly including tourist areas, transportation hubs, and shopping malls.

Belgian travel media Travel Tomorrow and The Indian Express reported that the U.S. Department of State issued a Level 2 travel warning for India in late June, urging U.S. citizens to remain vigilant and specifically emphasizing that women should "avoid traveling alone."

Additionally, the T3 terminal of New Delhi International Airport still lacks Chinese services, and the electronic screens at Mumbai Chhatrapati Station display only Hindi and English. Analysts believe that if India does not systematically upgrade and optimize its services and environment according to the consumption habits and safety concerns of Chinese tourists, infrastructure shortcomings, lagging service levels, and safety risks may become the main obstacles affecting Chinese tourists' decisions.

Facts prove that these concerns are not unfounded.

In the comment section of the Indian Embassy's Weibo post, Chinese netizens expressed a clear "one-sided" sentiment, such as "Who dares to go to India?" "I wouldn't go even if you paid me," and "I wouldn't go even if you asked me."

Previously, an industry insider told Observer that unless India improves its hygiene conditions and social security, it would be "a fantasy" to become one of the top ten global tourist destinations. Additionally, he reminded Chinese tourists that many historical sites in India are deteriorating due to long-term neglect and are at risk of collapse. Moreover, the fees for many cultural heritage sites and tourist attractions in India are "double standards," such as charging foreign tourists three times the amount charged to locals.

An analysis pointed out that India's resumption of tourist visas for Chinese citizens is an attempt to seek balance in geopolitics while exploring an economic breakthrough, aiming to alleviate domestic economic pressure. However, substantive improvement in bilateral relations still relies on the continuous accumulation of long-term mutual trust.

Jin Zhun believes that for India to better attract Chinese tourists, it should focus on further optimizing the following aspects: first, improving the trust of Chinese tourists in India, especially in terms of safety; second, facilitating visa processes; third, optimizing flight routes and transit channels; fourth, improving the traffic signs, public restrooms, Wi-Fi coverage, and compatibility of cash and mobile payments at tourist destinations, especially in popular scenic spots and city centers, and significantly enhancing Chinese support.

This article is an exclusive piece by Observer Network, and unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7530246849257554482/

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