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- Dubai 04:26 05:44 12:20 15:47 18:50 20:08
A boat made to look like a roasted duck is seen on the Huangpu River in front of the financial distict of Pudong in Shanghai on August 27, 2013. Shanghai is serving up a "roasted" version of a giant rubber duck, showing crispy brown skin instead of yellow after a similar art installation in rival Hong Kong attracted massive interest. (AFP)
China may expand its 72-hour visa-free policy for foreigners in a bid to boost the country's tourism.
Chinese authorities are mulling over measures to expedite visa processing and will gradually optimize visa-free stays for international transit passengers, the State Council, China's cabinet, said in a guideline published by state-run news agency, Xinhua.
The policy is already in place for foreign visitors to cities of Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Kunming, Chengdu, Chongqing, Shenyang, Dalian, Guilin and Xi'an.
China hopes expanding the program will help bolster tourism to and from Asia, central and eastern Europe and Africa.
The State Council said it also aims to make it easier for foreign-funded travel agencies to get business certificates from local tourism authorities.
Chinese travelling abroad are among the fastest growing tourism population due to steadily increasing incomes. This has resulted in a huge spending deficit with foreign tourists coming to China.
According to China Tourism Academy the gap in money spent by Chinese tourists overseas versus foreign tourist spending in China is estimated around 100 billion U.S. dollars.
The preferential policies laid down in the guideline are expected to lure more foreign tourists to China.
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