Travel
Denmark, Greece, Portugal: 18 European countries can now visit China visa-free
China’s rapidly expanding visa-free scheme aims to boost tourism.
After Norway was added to China’s visa-free list earlier in September, five more European countries have made the cut.
Citizens of Cyprus, Denmark, Greece, Portugal and Slovenia have now been granted visa waivers for the Asian nation, bringing the total number of European countries up to 18.
Tourists from these countries will be able to enter China visa-free from 15 October.
In July, tourists from Poland, Australia and New Zealand were also granted unrestricted entry to China until the end of 2025.
Since the start of 2024, the scheme has been announced in stages, with various European nations and Malaysia also gaining visa-free access. It aims to encourage more people to visit China for business and tourism, and promote exchanges between Chinese citizens and foreign nationals.
The full list of European countries now includes Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain and Switzerland. Tourists from these countries will be allowed to enter China for short stays without a visa until the end of next year.
The aim is “to facilitate the high-quality development of Chinese and foreign personnel exchanges and high-level opening up to the outside world,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a briefing on the initial announcement made in November.
Visa-free entry will be granted for up to 15 days in the trial programme.
International travel to China is still bouncing back
China’s strict pandemic measures, which included required quarantines for all arrivals, discouraged many people from visiting for nearly three years. The restrictions were lifted early last year, but international travel has yet to bounce back to pre-pandemic levels.
China previously allowed citizens of Brunei, Japan and Singapore to enter without a visa but suspended that after the COVID-19 outbreak. It resumed visa-free entry for Brunei and Singapore in July but has not done so for Japan.
In 2023, China recorded 35.5 million entries and exits by foreigners, according to immigration statistics. That compares to 97.7 million for all of 2019, the last year before the pandemic.
The government has been seeking foreign investment to help boost a sluggish economy, and some businesspeople have been coming for trade fairs and meetings, including Tesla’s Elon Musk and Apple’s Tim Cook. Foreign tourists are still a rare sight compared to before the pandemic.
How else is China simplifying travel for Europeans?
Last year saw a surge in interest in China as a tourist destination among Europeans.
Data from online travel agency Trip.com showed a 663 per cent increase in overall bookings from Europe to China compared to 2022, and an almost 29 per cent increase on 2019.
The United Kingdom and Germany were among the top 10 sources of inbound travellers to China globally, the data shows.
Shanghai remains the most popular destination among Europeans with its alluring blend of modernity and tradition, followed by Beijing, Guangzhou and Shenzhen.
Sanya, a beachside city on the southern end of China’s Hainan Island, and Chengdu – the capital of southwestern China’s Sichuan province – are emerging destinations.
Beyond it’s new visa-free schemes, the country is further encouraging inbound tourism by promoting cultural and historical attractions in partnership with Trip.com. China is also enhancing tourism infrastructure by investing in technology, travel guides and e-payment systems.
Travel
Floating homes and Michelin meals: This new cruise promises a permanent holiday
If you’ve ever lamented that your holiday is over too soon, one cruise line has an enticing offer – if you have a few million euros to spare, that is.
Newly launched Crescent Seas, founded by former Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings chairman Russell Galbut, is offering “floating homes” on its forthcoming fleet of residential cruise ships.
The first of these ships is due to set sail in 2026. But a permanent residence comes with an eye-watering price tag. The lowest price starts at €570,000. The highest? A jaw-dropping €8.8 million.
This cruise travels the world and never ends
The company’s first ship, a refitted version of the Regent Seven Seas Navigator, will host 210 private residences and embark on a global voyage, starting in December 2026.
Forever cruisers can expect four-day port stops in destinations like the Seychelles, Singapore, Iceland and Barcelona, with onshore excursions designed to immerse travellers in local cultures.
Three ships have already been confirmed: Navigator, Insignia – a former Oceania Cruises vessel set to relaunch in 2027 – and a new one dubbed The Ocean, expected to be finished in 2032. Two additional ships are in the pipeline for 2028 and 2029.
Onboard, Crescent Seas promises all the trappings of ultra-luxury living, from Michelin-inspired restaurants, wellness centres and Starlink-powered co-working spaces to cooking classes and “6-star” service by white-gloved butlers.
Residents are also required to purchase around €30,000 worth of annual food and beverage credits.
“As a developer, I know real estate has always been defined by location, location, location, as we say. With Crescent Seas, we’ve eliminated that limitation,” Galbut told The Telegraph.
“Now, your home isn’t bound to a single address – it moves with you, taking you to the world’s most breathtaking destinations.”
From the seven seas to space, the ultra-rich look beyond
Crescent Seas isn’t the only venture offering the wealthy a radical rethinking of how – and where – we live. While some opt for floating mansions, others have looked to the stars.
From Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic to Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin, billionaire executives have putspace tourism on the map for the world’s elite.
Earlier this year, US-based company Space Perspective opened bookings for its space balloon experience. For around €120,000, travellers can ascend to the stratosphere in a capsule the size of a lounge room, complete with a bar and bathroom.
Elon Musk’s Space X, meanwhile, has set sight on Mars. Though a one-way ticket is not yet on sale, applications for future missions have already opened, and some ultra-wealthy pioneers are queuing up to trade beachfront views for an expanse of red dust.
Back on Earth, entire islands in places like the Maldives are being sold to buyers seeking the ultimate seclusion – like a gated community surrounded by the ocean.
‘Homes that move with you’
Crescent Seas isn’t the first floating home for the super-rich, either.
The World, a condo-like residential ship, has been circumnavigating the globe since 2002. Then there’s Ville Vie’s Odyssey. Billed as the world’s first perpetual cruise, the ship offers multi-year, residence-style packages starting at around €2 million.
Crescent Seas is aiming for a balance of both – privacy and full-time ownership, with the bonus of global adventure.
“Imagine travelling the world without ever leaving the comfort of your own home,” said Marisa Galbut, president of Crescent Seas.
For those with millions to spend, the dream of a home that moves with you, whether through the waves or the stratosphere, is no longer the stuff of fantasy, as the limits of luxury travel drift further from solid ground.
Travel
New Madrid-Lisbon high-speed train to cut journey time from 10 hours to three
A new high-speed train route linking Madrid and Lisbon aims to be operational by 2030 – when the two countries will be co-hosting the FIFA World Cup.
The two capitals have not been linked by a direct train since 2020, when Spain’s state-owned rail company Renfe discontinued its overnight train-hotel service.
The new route – which will cut the journey time from over 10 hours to just three – has received official sign-off from the European Commission.
“We’re working on a plan to strengthen high-speed connections between major European capitals – and Madrid–Lisbon is one of our top priorities,” said EU Commissioner for Transport, Apostolos Tzitzikostas.
Portugal’s government says the train links are key to decarbonising transport and will see flights between the capitals reduced.
That said, the government is also planning a new airport in the Lisbon region as part of the push to improve connections to the country.
Here’s everything we know so far.
Spanish trains will take advantage of Portugal’s new high-speed line
Portugal is developing a new high-speed train line, the first part of which is due to be ready for the first journeys this year.
The 100km line from Elvas to Evora will cut the journey time between Lisbon in west Portugal and Badajoz in west Spain from three-and-a-half to under two hours.
It will be part of a wider Iberian high-speed rail network that will also connect Lisbon to Porto in around 1 hour 15 minutes – less than half the time it currently takes.
According to Spanish news site El Español, it is hoped the line will connect Madrid and Lisbon via Badajoz in six hours by 2027 and three hours by 2030 when the entire route is operational.
The coastal line, meanwhile, could extend to Vigo, Santiago and A Coruña in northwest Spain, while Madrid could be connected to Porto via Salamanca.
Why is there no train line between Spain and Portugal?
Renfe needs to invest €15 million to adapt part of its rolling stock to Portuguese infrastructure, according to La Información.
Various infrastructure issues need to be addressed before cross-border trains can operate. These include discrepancies in electrical voltages and signalling systems that are not expected to be resolved until at least 2025, the news site reports.
In 2023 though, the Spanish and Portuguese prime ministers endorsed plans to improve train connectivity between their two countries in line with the EU’s plan to liberalise Europe’s railways.
Sumar party MPs voiced their support for a rail link to support sustainable travel and boost economic relations between Spain and Portugal.
Renfe stopped operating the Madrid-Lisbon Trenhotel Lusitania in May 2020 due to the pandemic, and never resumed the service.
Portugal plans new airport near Lisbon
Portugal is also constructing a new international airport in Alcochete, about 40 kilometres from the capital, after decades of indecision.
The transport hub will be in operation by 2034 and will replace Lisbon’s Humberto Delgado airport (although this will be expanded while the new airport is being built).
Portugal’s tourism industry says the development is necessary as Humberto Delgado is currently operating at full capacity.
To improve connections from Lisbon city centre to the new airport, the government also plans to build a third bridge over the Tagus river.
Travel
Travel warning: Bringing European meat and dairy products into the UK could land you a €6,000 fine
The UK has put a temporary ban on travellers from Europe (including returning British citizens) bringing meat and dairy products into the country.
The restrictions came in on 12 April in response to the uptick in cases of foot-and-mouth disease on the continent.
Visitors in possession of banned items will have to surrender them at the border or have them seized and destroyed.
Travellers arriving from an EU or EFTA country (Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein) currently cannot bring meat from cattle, sheep, pigs or goats, or dairy produce into the UK for personal consumption.
The ban includes sandwiches, cheeses, cured meats and raw meats, according to the new ruling from the British government.
Even products which are packed or packaged, or have been purchased at duty free are off limits.
Travellers found in possession of these items risk fines of up to £5,000 (€5,845) in the most serious cases.
The restrictions only apply to visitors arriving in Great Britain – but not in Northern Ireland, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man.
Some products are exempt from the ban. Travellers can bring in a limited amount of infant formula milk, medical foods, and some items such as chocolate, confectionery, bread, cakes, biscuits and pasta.
Why has the UK banned visitors from bringing in meat?
The UK currently remains free of foot-and-mouth disease, so the measure hopes to prevent the spread from European countries.
The British government has also banned imports of cattle, sheep, other ruminants, pig meat and dairy products from Germany, Hungary, Slovakia and Austria.
Foot-and-mouth disease is highly contagious and can be fatal to cloven-hoofed animals, including cattle, sheep and pigs.
The disease does not pose a health risk to humans, and meat and milk from infected livestock are considered safe to consume.
“This government will do whatever it takes to protect British farmers from foot-and-mouth,” the UK’s farming minister Daniel Zeichner said.
“That is why we are further strengthening protections by introducing restrictions on personal meat and dairy imports to prevent the spread of the disease and protect Britain’s food security.”
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