China, which imposed the visa requirement on July 1 to tighten security ahead of the Olympic Games, has lifted it, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Travel agents expect the number of holidaymakers going there to rise, and businessmen who travel there regularly are cheering at not having to stand in the snaking queues outside the Chinese Embassy to get their visas.

Mr Freddie Chan, a regional sales director for a heating, ventilation and air-conditioner business, used to go to China once a month.

But since visas became necessary in July, he has gone only once - and because it was an emergency at that.

The 39-year-old said: 'The hassle and cost was just too much trouble.'

Regular visas cost $25 for a single entry and take four days to process, but he paid $60 for that one time he had to travel because he wanted it the next day.

Even so, he spent five hours over two days, first to submit his application and then to pick up the visa.

Now that the restriction has been lifted, he plans to head over next week for a 'long overdue' visit to his factories.

Travel agents are also bracing themselves for a flood of customers.

Chan Brothers spokesman Ivy Tan disclosed that it sold 1,500 China packages in two days at a travel fair last week.

SA Tours spokesman Ruth Lim said China would be a choice travel destination, now that the Olympics had shown what China was capable of.

Travel agents are also glad that they no longer need to send their employees to the Chinese Embassy to apply for visas on behalf of their customers.

China's sudden decision to require Singaporeans to have visas had taken many by surprise. On some days, the line at its Tanglin Road embassy ran for 100m.