You're reading: Ukraine temporarily cancels visas for Chinese tourists to boost travel industry

Starting on April 1, Chinese tourists can enter Ukraine without visas and stay in the country for up to 30 days, according to a decree signed by President Volodymyr Zelensky on March 23.

The visa-free regime for Chinese tourists is temporary and will last until Sept. 30.

President Zelensky has lifted visa restrictions for the Chinese to “develop friendly relations” and “strengthen bilateral cooperation in the tourism sector” between Ukraine and China.

It is not the first time Ukraine has temporarily canceled visas for Chinese tourists. Last year Ukraine allowed them to cross into the country without visas from Aug. 1 to Jan. 31.

Read more: Ukraine-China trade grows by $3 billion despite pandemic

Earlier in June, Zelensky said that he also wanted to lift visa restrictions for tourists from Australia, New Zealand and Arab countries. This “visa liberalization” will help Ukraine to “compete for a foreign tourist,” he said.

This visa-free deal may help the Ukrainian tourism industry that has lost nearly $2 billion since the beginning of the pandemic.

Before the pandemic, international tourists in Ukraine spent on average $120-150 a day and stayed in the country for up to four days, according to the estimates of Ukrainian tour operators.

To attract more foreigners to Ukraine, the country needs to build more hotels and travel resorts, according to a statement on the presidential website.

In January, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs launched a website that showcases Ukraine’s beauty and tells foreigners where to go in Ukraine. According to the website, those who want to combine sightseeing with culinary tourism can go on a wine tour to Odesa, while those who love adventures can visit Dragobrat, the highest ski resort in Ukraine.

Many foreigners, including Chinese tourists, can also visit the Chornobyl exclusion zone, which the five-part HBO miniseries “Chernobyl” turned the spotlight on when it came out in 2019.

Ukraine even organizes tours from China to Chornobyl, a city 110 kilometers north of Kyiv. Tourists can book the trip on Chornobyl’s official website.