Visa-free tourism boom expected

Travel and hospitality industries in Chengdu are expected to benefit from the city's new visa-free 72-hour stay policy, said industry insiders.

The policy, which started last September, allows nationals from 51 countries in Asia, the Americas, Europe and Oceania to spend three days in the city if they have valid visas and onward flight tickets to a third country.

"This policy will bring more international passengers," said Wang Pei Chong, SilkAir's manager for western China. SilkAir was one of the first international airlines to operate direct routes to the southwestern metropolis, renowned for pandas.