Northeast China's Liaoning Province is attracting an increasing number of overseas travelers for longer stays by leveraging abundant ice and snow tourism resources and flexible visa policies.
Following the 240-hour visa-free transit policy in province's capital Shenyang and port city Dalian, starting Dec 1, the Exit-Entry Administration under Shenyang Public Security Bureau further optimized its services, allowing foreign tourists to obtain a stay extension of up to 30 days after submitting their travel plans.
At the administration's service hall, Omar Salazar Mendoza, a Mexican traveler who was processing his business, was attracted by a local winter tourism brochure and immediately planned to extend his stay in China after learning that his visa could be easily extended.
"Because now it's more convenient. My wife's family is from [China], so we can meet the family. My favorite [Chinese food] is (switching to Chinese) guobaorou (a fried pork dish in a sweet-and-sour sauce), tieguodun (stewed meat and vegetables), and jiaozi (dumplings)," he said.
"Before I came here, I thought I would have to pass through a lot of procedures, but it's actually very easy. You just have to fill out a form, and everything is very easy. At first, I was going to stay a few days, but now, because there is the new policy, I am going to extend for one more month so I can see the snow and have fun on vacation," said Abduwe Kenza, a Moroccan traveler who was also attracted by the favorable policy.
According to the Liaoning border inspection station, from January to early June, visa-free entry for foreign tourists has accounted for 70 percent of all foreign tourists entering Liaoning Province, an eightfold increase compared to the same period last year.
"Foreigners holding tourist visas or those granted visa-free entry only need to submit their travel itinerary to apply for visa extensions through our one-stop service. During this period, they can continue their travels in Shenyang without interruption. We can mail the extended visa directly to them," a border officer said.
The Exit-Entry Administration of Shenyang Public Security Bureau has also launched a multilingual AI guide system, providing foreign nationals with living and travel guidance in 10 languages.
"I have many friends whose Chinese isn't very good yet, so they can come here and ask the AI for help. It can help you with everything, such as opening a bank account, applying for a visa, finding a fun place or a good restaurant, and it even tells you approximately how much a subway ticket costs," said a Belarusian traveler.
Flexible visa policies to help promote ice-snow tourism in NE China's Liaoning
Analysts have warned of more significant economic pain for Lebanon after its conflict with Israel reignited this month amid wider Middle East tensions, with many expecting the new flare up to have a devastating impact on the country's economy.
Joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran starting on Feb 28 have since spiraled into a wider conflict as Iran fired back with retaliatory strikes on numerous targets across the region, with fears growing over mounting casualties, continued disruption, and far-reaching political and security repercussions.
Lebanon became directly involved in the conflict after Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel last week, prompting Israeli airstrikes and the capture of several positions in southern Lebanon.
The death toll from Israeli attacks in Lebanon since March 2 has risen to 486, with more than 1,300 others injured, Lebanon's Ministry of Public Health said on Monday.
Israel is increasing its deployment of troops and tanks near its border with Lebanon as it intensifies its battle against Hezbollah. Meanwhile, Hezbollah has pledged that it will not back down, despite the Lebanese government's declaration that its military activities are illegal.
The ongoing fighting has already displaced over half a million people, and analysts are now concerned that the Israeli airstrikes and the resulting exodus will severely impact the Lebanese economy.
"The conflict has erupted, and no one knows its full impact for now because we don't know how long it will last. If it continues for a long time, our economy can fall to figures below zero because we will lose all activity we have recovered. This means someone holding the Lira currency will hesitate to spend it because no one knows how this conflict will end," said Mohamed Shams Eldin, an author and researcher for Information International, an independent regional research and consultancy firm based in Beirut.
"All companies and traders prefer cash payments for their goods and services on the spot. The cash economy has deepened amid the current crisis, and the country is in a standstill. Foreign investors are avoiding Lebanon. I think they stay away because of the lack of trust. They fear they will lose their money, and if we face a crisis every year or year and a half, investors will prefer to put their money into other countries," said economic analyst Nadim Al Sabeh.
Lebanon has been grappling with numerous challenges in recent years, beginning with a wide-ranging financial crisis which plunged the country into severe debt. This was then exasperated by the COVID-19 pandemic and a catastrophic explosion at Beirut's port in 2020, before a series of conflicts between Hezbollah and Israel starting in 2023 brought more misery.
The current conflict with Israel has disrupted many economic operations, leading to widespread displacement and putting pressure on the government to cover the costs. For a services-oriented economy like Lebanon's, this now threatens an economic collapse.
"Given the current circumstances, Lebanon doesn't have millions of tourists like Egypt or Türkiye. Therefore, remittances are the foundation of our economy. One million Lebanese citizens, or 250,000 families rely on these remittances. It's why the U.S. dollar cash flow in the market here surpasses that of any other country -- people have lost trust in banks," said Eldin.
Renewed fighting with Israel threatens to collapse Lebanese economy: analysts
