Eye on Chinese arrivals

Editor's note: In this weekly feature China Daily gives voice to Asia and its people. The stories presented come mainly from the Asia News Network (ANN), of which China Daily is among its 20 leading titles.

For Wu Chuang, a 23-year-old diving enthusiast from Beijing, the waters of the Philippines exert an irresistible pull. Over the past three years, Wu has traveled to the archipelago four times, becoming a regular fixture across the dive hubs of Manila, Dumaguete, and Cebu.

For Chinese travelers like Wu, a long-awaited shift has begun. Starting Jan 16, Chinese nationals can enter the Philippines visa-free for up to 14 days, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila. The unilateral waiver applies to both tourism and business travel, provided visitors enter through international airports in Metro Manila or Cebu.

"This is in line with the president's directive to facilitate trade, investments and tourism, as well as strengthen people-to-people exchanges between the Philippines and China," the department stated. The move follows the restoration of electronic visas in November last year, signaling a cautious but clear reopening.

In Wu's eyes, the country's marine life is peerless. "From the sardine run off southern Cebu to the rare species in northern waters — among the Philippines' hundreds of dive sites, there is always a corner that speaks to your soul," he said.

As the Chinese New Year approaches, industry insiders believe the new visa-free policy is anticipated to revive outbound Chinese travel to the Philippines.