One month into visa-free policy, SW China's border sees increase in traveler flow

STORY: One month into visa-free policy, SW China's border sees increase in traveler flow SHOOTING TIME: Dec. 31, 2023 DATELINE: Jan. 2, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:19 LOCATION: KUNMING, China CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the station 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): REITH KOEN LODEWIJK, Dutch traveler 3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): CHEONG KEAN BENG, Worker with a Malaysian tour group STORYLINE: The entry-exit border inspection station in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, has seen a significant increase in the number of travelers, thanks to China's unilateral visa-free policy. The visa-free policy for ordinary passport holders from six countries, including France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Malaysia, took effect on Dec. 1. According to the station, a total of more than 15,000 travelers from these countries entered China, a 352 percent rise from November. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): REITH KOEN LODEWIJK, Dutch traveler "It's nice that we don't need a visa to go to China." SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese