Enhanced payment, communication, and convenience measures for international travelers are drawing widespread attention at the 2025 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) held in Beijing from Sept 10 to 14.
Innovations such as upgraded SIM cards and smart travel tools are attracting significant interest from foreign visitors, including Julien Gaudfroy from France, who shared his experience at the event.
Julien demonstrated how the new 5G-powered "simultaneous interpretation" feature helps break down language barriers. He also tested a "super SIM card" that integrates payment, communication, and transportation functions.
"Any overseas credit card can be linked to the App to do a payment," he said.
He highlighted that payment difficulties -- once a major hassle for foreign tourists in China -- have been largely resolved.
With upgraded entry services, visitors can now make offline payments by scanning a QR code or using Alipay Tap, a QR code-based contactless payment and customer engagement solution introduced by China's mobile payment company Alipay.
Similarly, subway access requires only a quick tap of their phone at the gate. Comprehensive 5G coverage also ensures that navigation apps update in real time, providing reliable travel guidance.
"In other countries, it's common to have no signal on the first floor of a shopping mall or in the basement. China has consistently excelled in this aspect. So I feel that here, it basically ensures you have signal everywhere," he said.
Another featured service, "one-click tax refund," allows international tourists to receive refunds directly to their payment apps within just two minutes after scanning a QR code.
"Previously, the tax refund process at Paris airports was very cumbersome and frustrating. Now in China, with a simple QR code, the refund is processed quickly. Cash tax refunds are also available," he said.
"I have genuinely felt during this time that relevant departments in China are highly determined to make people from all countries around the world feel at home. When arriving here, firstly, there is no sense of unfamiliarity, and secondly, one can truly get practical solutions to real problems," said Julien.
"This exhibition zone features ten application scenarios designed for international visitors entering China, all of which have been officially implemented. Among them, the super SIM two-in-one card has been completely launched in Beijing, currently serving over 6,000 international users monthly," said Chen Lianjie, head of the Thematic Exhibition on Telecommunications, Computer and Information Services.
China has been continuously refining its visa-free, tax refund, payment convenience, and specialized tourism policies.
In the first half of this year, the number of visa-free entries reached 13.64 million, a year-on-year increase of 53.9 percent.
Additionally, according to the World Tourism Cities Development Report (2024–2025) released on Thursday, Beijing, Hangzhou, Shanghai, Macao, and Hong Kong are now among the top ten cities globally for smart tourism, thanks to sustained investment in digital infrastructure, cultural tourism technology, and travel facilitation.
China's tech-driven travel services impress int'l visitors at 2025 CIFTIS
