Filipinos can visit Hainan, China visa-free starting May 1

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine passport holders have another place they can add to their travel list, as China allows visa-free entry to Hainan Island for 30 days starting May 1.

China's Ministry of Public Security and the State Immigration Administration announced the new policy in a bid to boost Hainan’s “reform and opening-up initiatives,” a release Friday by the Sanya Tourism Development Commission said.

The announcement was made on Wednesday.

Tourists making solo or group travels can avail of this new policy by booking their tours through travel agencies registered in Hainan Province and approved by the China National Tourism Administration.

The Chinese ministry encourages tourists to visit the city of Sanya, dubbed as the “Hawaii of China.” Beaches line the southernmost city of the island, and tourists can also experience the culture and city life in Hainan, the ministry added.

Passport holders from the following countries will also enjoy the 30-day visa-free entry to Hainan:

• Russia
• United Kingdom
• France
• Germany
• Norway
• Ukraine
• Italy
• Austria
• Finland
• Netherlands
• Denmark
• Switzerland
• Sweden
• Spain
• Belgium
• Czech Republic
• Estonia
• Greece
• Hungary
• Iceland
• Latvia
• Lithuania
• Luxemburg
• Malta
• Poland
• Portugal
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Ireland
• Cyprus
• Bulgaria
• Romania
• Serbia
• Croatia
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Montenegro
• Macedonia
• Albania
• United States
• Canada
• Brazil
• Mexico
• Argentina
• Chile
• Australia
• New Zealand
• South Korea
• Japan
• Singapore
• Malaysia
• Thailand
• Kazakhstan
• Indonesia Brunei
• Monaco Belarus
• United Arab Emirates
• Qatar

RELATED: Where a Philippine passport means a visa-free visit

— with Agence France-Presse