India has taken a major step toward mending diplomatic ties with China by resuming the issuance of tourist visas for Chinese nationals. The move, effective from July 24, 2025, marks the end of a five-year suspension that had paused leisure travel between the two countries since 2020. The announcement came after high-level talks in Beijing between India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi.
The visa services were initially halted due to the global outbreak of COVID-19 and ongoing border tensions, which severely affected diplomatic and travel exchanges. Although both nations reopened other categories of travel over time, such as business and student visas, tourist visas remained off the table until now. This reopening is now being seen as a hopeful indicator of improving ties and growing people-to-people engagement.
According to an official notice shared by the Indian Embassy in Beijing on Chinese social media platform Weibo, Chinese citizens can once again apply for tourist visas to India. The application process will follow the standard route where applicants must fill out a visa form online, book an appointment, and submit documents at the Indian Visa Application Center. While the embassy has not outlined any new eligibility restrictions, applicants are advised to check the latest travel advisories and guidelines.
This diplomatic decision has been welcomed in both countries, especially by those in the tourism and hospitality industries. China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs acknowledged India’s move and expressed openness to further dialogue and efforts to boost people-to-people connectivity. Officials said that the goal is to gradually build mutual trust and improve the scale of personal exchanges.
The timing of this resumption is significant. Before the pandemic, China was one of India’s key source markets for tourism. In 2019, over 3.4 lakh Chinese tourists visited India, making up more than three percent of total foreign arrivals. Popular attractions included the Golden Triangle route covering Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur, as well as spiritual and heritage sites connected to Buddhism, which holds deep cultural meaning for many Chinese travelers.
Over the past few years, even as business ties tried to stabilize, thousands of Chinese tourists were unable to visit India due to the visa freeze. This decision not only revives cross-border tourism but also carries symbolic weight in encouraging further cooperation and dialogue between the two Asian giants.
For the travel industry, this reopening could be a turning point. Tour operators, hotel chains, and cultural organizations are already preparing to welcome a renewed influx of Chinese visitors, especially with peak tourist seasons approaching. As both governments begin to explore further normalization of travel and trade, tourism is likely to play a key role in rebuilding the bridge that had once been shaken by geopolitical turbulence.
The return of Chinese tourists is not just about numbers or revenue. It is a sign that shared history, mutual curiosity, and cultural connections can once again take center stage, especially in an era where rebuilding global trust is more important than ever.
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