Beijing will soon offer foreign travelers 72 hours visa-free as a way to boost local tourism, vice mayor Ding Xiangyang said on Saturday.

Currently foreign tourists spend three times that of Chinese travelers while in Beijing, so a 72-hour visa will surely benefit the capital, explained the mayor.  

However, the new policy has triggered heated controversy amid the backdrop of several recent high-profile cases involving foreigners in China. While some applauded the move, others slammed the authorities for opening the door to more foreigners who may seek illegal immigration, residence and employment.

There are also voices berating the authorities for granting foreigners "supra-national treatment" while Chinese citizens face lengthy processes when applying for visas to other countries.

@爱萝卜的兔子Ly：Currently Beijing's traffic is already severe. If there were no more efficient and effective regulations in place, Beijing residents will be the ones hurting in the end.

@剑胆琴心RIC：For any city, three days of sightseeing is enough. A 72-hour visa-free period benefits the aircraft industry, and is a step for making Beijing into air transport hub. I hope Beijing could bring in more low-fare airlines and attract more travelers.

@张蕊-钢圈Jing永远追寻CP3的步伐 ：When will the government stop thinking only about short term interests? How will we deal with the traffic, protection of scenic spots and maintain public security?

@SummerDreamDay：I hope we keep an eye on the negative problems brought about by this 72-hour visa. China does not exclude others, but we should pay attention in case some people use this policy to act illegally.