The introduction of multiple-entry visas is a mutual agreement between China and Australia

A leading hospitality industry body has endorsed an agreement to introduce a new multiple-entry visa scheme between China and Australia to facilitate exchanges and strengthen ties between the two countries. At their meetings this week, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang discussed various ways to facilitate exchanges and strengthen people-to-people ties in both countries.

In a joint statement, the Australian and Chinese governments said they valued "the contribution of people-to-people exchanges to bilateral relations, including the growing exchange of students, tourists and business people since the lifting of border restrictions". The Heads of State and Government agreed to significantly facilitate exchanges, including the granting of multiple-entry visas for three to five years for reciprocal visits and business trips.

Ms. Margy Osmond, Executive Director of the Tourism and Transport Forum (TTF) Australia, expressed her full support for this new agreement and stated that it will have a significant impact on tourism and strengthen relations between the two countries. She emphasized that the new visa arrangement will greatly facilitate travel between China and Australia and encourage more Chinese tourists and students to visit Australia. Ms. Osmond said China was Australia's most important international tourism market before the pandemic, and these changes should help revitalize Australia's tourism sector and increase the flow of Chinese tourists to the country.