China announces visa-free travel for all Australians visiting for up to 15 days

Just hot off the press now. Australians won’t need a visa to go to China for travel that is 15 days or less in duration. Premier Li has just announced this at Parliament House after meeting Albanese as part of his Australian state visit. Unclear when the start date is.

I wonder if this is enough to reverse Qantas’ decision to axe PVG. There will inevitably be a surge in demand for Aus-China travel, this time from the Australian side. China-travel related online searches surged by almost 70% in New Zealand when Li announced the same visa free travel program for NZ citizens a couple of days ago.

Just returning quickly to the confirmation Australia will be given access to China's 15-day free visa waiver program.

Foreign affairs reporter Stephen Dziedzic has the details:
This is essentially a program that has been rolled out to a number of nations, including New Zealand most recently, quite a few European nations.
We did think this might be coming, there were a few hints in the Chinese system and the fact other Western nations have been granted this is probably a pretty clear indicator something like this was coming to Australia. As a gesture of good will, it's very useful.
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www.abc.net.au

Live: PM lauds agreements on education and climate signed during Chinese premier's visit

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will host a lunch for China's Premier Li Qiang during the high-level visit, while supporters and protesters line the streets with some scuffles breaking out. Follow live.
www.abc.net.au www.abc.net.au

Chinese premier says China will include Australia in the list of unilateral visa-free countries

Chinese Premier Li Qiang said here Monday that China will include Australia in the list of unilateral visa-free countries.
english.www.gov.cn english.www.gov.cn
 
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Much easier than the 144-hr TWOVs.

For the Euro countries that already have this looks like it runs thru end-2025.
 
RSVKanga said:
I wonder if this is enough to reverse Qantas’ decision to axe PVG. There will inevitably be a surge in demand for Aus-China travel, this time from the Australian side. China-travel related online searches surged by almost 70% in New Zealand when Li announced the same visa free travel program for NZ citizens a couple of days ago.
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I’m not sure it will. Mainland Chinese air traffic is not high yielding, alot of Western business has exited or significantly downsized presence in China, moving to other cities in the region. That leaves rather the typically low yielding F&F and tourists not exactly QF’s target market.

It is very good news though for those of us who still have to go there / want to go there.
 
Timing is everything. My brother in law said on Sunday night that he was about to book a 6 day holiday in China for late in the year, and I gave him a bunch of reasons to choose somewhere else with getting the visa being the main reason. Now I look like a right pillock.
 
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Never had any real issues in the past getting visas but it does remove another layer of complications and makes spur of the moment trips easier. Good outcome and will grab one of the incredible fares that are on sale currently
 
Happy Dude said:
Timing is everything. My brother in law said on Sunday night that he was about to book a 6 day holiday in China for late in the year, and I gave him a bunch of reasons to choose somewhere else with getting the visa being the main reason. Now I look like a right pillock.
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6 days is visa free if you have the right flight setup:)

144h transit visas has been how I've done my last 2 trips.
 
Flew to Shanghai this week. Crew member said the loads have been full the last couple of weeks... funnily enough, the improvement has been since QF announced they were scrapping the service. Maybe they will reconsider if loads are much better and now visa free travel.
 
aus_flyer said:
Flew to Shanghai this week. Crew member said the loads have been full the last couple of weeks... funnily enough, the improvement has been since QF announced they were scrapping the service. Maybe they will reconsider if loads are much better and now visa free travel.
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Agreed. With this new information about loads you have provided combined with the announcement of visa-free travel, the rationale for QF scrapping PVG gets weaker by the hour.

Hopefully we'll see a reversal of Qantas' decision sooner rather than later.
 
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Qantas announced this week, that it has bought the remaining 49% of Trip a Deal.

Trip a Deal sends 6,000 Australians to China each year.

It is an anomaly, that all these tourists fly on Philippine Airlines or Chinese airlines.

In addition, the Chinese PM announced 15 day free visas for Australians and Kiwis.

The Shanghai service could work for Qantas ferrying Trip a Deal tourists, as well as Australians and Kiwis using the 15 day free visas.
 
aus_flyer said:
Flew to Shanghai this week. Crew member said the loads have been full the last couple of weeks... funnily enough, the improvement has been since QF announced they were scrapping the service.
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Flights from Australia to lots of Asia have been chock full for the last couple of weeks.
 
Bali Guy said:
Shanghai service could work for Qantas ferrying Trip a Deal tourists
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If you're offering a $999 package to China including accommodation, tours and some food, I doubt they are paying the airlines much
(Not that these deals are great.. reviews suggest they are cheap because of the forced shopping trips each day, which is where the real money is made)
 
moa999 said:
If you're offering a $999 package to China including accommodation, tours and some food, I doubt they are paying the airlines much
(Not that these deals are great.. reviews suggest they are cheap because of the forced shopping trips each day, which is where the real money is made)
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They're usually ok. You get taken to high pressure sales places, but often it's not scam products.
I legitimately remember being on one of these and having one of the best longjing green teas I've ever had.

They were expensive and lots of people did buy them, but it was definitely also good stuff. Same with the jade place and a lot of the other places.

That being said you could also just sit there for the 1-2 hours of shopping a day and then enjoy the rest of the tour.
 
aus_flyer said:
Crew member said the loads have been full the last couple of weeks... funnily enough, the improvement has been since QF announced they were scrapping the service. Maybe they will reconsider if loads are much better and now visa free travel.
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With what aircraft?
And what type of passengers? Package deal pax? Tour groups?

Loads should be full from the airline's point if view. Question is now much additional latent demand there is from premium QF passengers.?
 
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