Is the full resumption of visas enough to rekindle Chinese travel to India?

LISTEN TO THE FULL PODCAST on CGTN

Published November 28, 2025

Just as a complex jigsaw puzzle requires aligning both the main pieces (visa policy) and the edge pieces (connectivity, safety, social media presence) simultaneously to reveal the full picture, India must address infrastructure and image barriers alongside the visa changes if it hopes to connect successfully with the vast potential of the Chinese outbound tourist market.

We are pleased to share key insights from our CEO, Mr. Subramania Bhatt, who recently joined the global news programme, CGTN Chat Lounge, on the recent full global restoration of visa services for Chinese travellers by India marks a significant step. He provided sharp analysis on the immediate impact, long-term potential, and necessary next steps required for India to truly capture the attention of the high-spending Chinese tourist market.

The Scope of the Global Visa Resumption

Subbu highlighted that this new measure differs significantly from the quiet restart of tourist visas introduced in July. The initial reopening was limited, handled only through missions in Beijing, Shanghai, and Kunming, and occurred after five years of freezing due to COVID and border tensions.

The new step goes much further. Indian embassies and consulates worldwide are now permitted to issue tourist visas to Chinese nationals, regardless of their location. This significantly simplifies the process for Chinese citizens living or working in third countries, such as Singapore, the UAE, or the UK. This shift represents a move from a limited reopening inside China to full global access.

Furthermore, the return of e-visas/e-tourist visas makes the application process much easier, allowing eligible travellers to upload documents and receive electronic authorization entirely online. Politically, Subbu interprets this as India signalling that they are ready to welcome normal people-to-people travellers.

While the new policy is specifically focused on tourist visas, Subbu noted that other categories—such as student, business, work, and medical visas—had already been opened, although they often faced friction and extensive documentation requirements. The latest move’s focus is simplifying the tourist visa process, making it easier to apply through e-visa online channels with less friction.

He expects tourist visas will likely be prioritized over work visas, as tourism revenue is greatly desired.

The Drivers: Economics and Diplomacy

Subbu suggests that the timing of this move is likely a coincidence rather than a concrete geopolitical play related to events like the cancellation of Chinese trips to Japan.

Several factors, however, necessitated the decision:

1. Security Tensions: Security tensions along the borders have cooled down significantly after several rounds of talks, making Delhi feel safer about taking a visible, confident step.

2. Economic Need: Foreign tourism into India is still below 2019 levels. Before COVID, around 340,000 Chinese visitors came to India; that number recently dropped to around 30,000. Subbu points out that this high-spending, fast-growing market needs to be part of India’s growth strategy for tourism. Chinese tourists, on average, spent about $1,700 US dollars per person when they visited India before the pandemic, representing substantial direct consumption and auxiliary revenue.

3. Diplomatic Urgency: China’s outbound tourism is recovering quickly, estimated to reach 160 million this year, potentially surpassing 2019 levels by 2025. If India waited longer, Chinese travellers would simply become more accustomed to destinations in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. Subbu argues that India recognised this urgency.

He also mentioned that China has been opening up significantly to foreigners and instituting visa fee policies, contrasting with India’s previously strict visitor visa rules. India’s expansion of the visa policy, therefore, acts as a form of reciprocity aimed at building a better relationship, necessary for the two biggest neighbouring countries in Asia to flourish through the exchange of people, technology, and commerce.

Bottlenecks and Barriers to Success

Despite the welcoming headlines, Subbu expressed concern that the results might not be immediately rosy, as "headlines usually move faster than the reality".

Key bottlenecks and challenges include:

• Implementation: The bureaucratic staff at consulates need to demonstrate timely and effective approval processes.

• Travel Corridor: Currently, there are only two approved flights between India and China, meaning there is low connectivity. If straight, easily available, and cheap travel routes (like Beijing to Delhi or Mumbai) are lacking, tourists will fall back to easier destinations like Southeast Asia and Korea.

• Safety and Image: From the Chinese tourist perspective, safety becomes a big paramount issue that India needs to address. Social media frequently amplifies concerns regarding theft, harassment, cleanliness, and issues like overcharging or bordering on harassing tourists. This negative image needs to be addressed head-on.

The Immense Potential and Necessary Strategies

The potential of the Chinese outbound market for India is immense. Subu estimates that China is expecting 200 million travellers by 2028. If India aims for just 1% of that market by 2028, it would attract 2 million Chinese visitors. Achieving this ambitious goal requires substantial effort.

To move the needle, Subbu recommends:

• Scaling Connectivity: Rapidly scaling flight connectivity is the fundamental first step, focusing on routes like Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou to Delhi, Mumbai, and Kolkata, and adding flights to Buddhist circuits.

• Payment Integration: Integrating AliPay and WeChat Pay into the local ecosystem would greatly enhance convenience.

• Social Media Exposure: India needs a big roll out on Chinese social media platforms like Ctrip and Mafengwo, ensuring high visibility of attractions. Subbu states that "if you’re not on social media, are you really in the world?". He also supports using AI and translation tools to make promotional efforts seamless and translated to Mandarin, showing appreciation for Chinese travellers.

Subbu also notes that Chinese travellers are increasingly seeking experiential travel—looking for authentic, unique experiences rather than just luxury shopping. India has plenty to offer, including Buddhism travelling, yoga, and different natural resources and safaris.

Sustainability and Risks

To ensure this improved momentum is sustainable, Subbu argues that the border management tension is the biggest lingering risk. As long as there are no fresh deadly clashes or standoffs on the LAC, the momentum can continue.

Sustainability also hinges on the bilateral flow actually materialising. This requires not just tourist movement, but also freeing up student exchange and investment. Small skirmishes, such as detaining an Indian passport holder over certain territorial claims, could be taken out of context and become political very fast, risking derailment of broader relations.

Travel Advice

For Chinese citizens planning their first trip to India, Subbu advises preparation and research. Because India is vast and diverse, travellers should find reputable people to help with their itinerary. He also specifically recommends using technology like Google Translate, which can significantly ease communication difficulties between Chinese/English and various local Indian languages like Tamil and Malayalam.

His top tourist recommendations include the backwaters of Kerala for nature, and the Taj Mahal for a historical, picture-perfect experience suitable for posting on social media.