Chinese authorities have released a package of policy measures aimed at boosting spending by foreign tourists and enhancing exports of tourism services, as part of broader efforts to expand the country's service sector, according to a notice made public on Friday.
The measures, jointly issued by nine government departments including the Ministry of Commerce, outline steps to boost foreign visitor spending in key sectors, including tourism, business activities, sports events, cultural and entertainment activities, health services, and education and training.
Key policies include granting visa-free entry to more countries and improving visa-free transit policies. Efforts will be made to increase the number of departure tax refund stores and offer easier payment methods for foreign visitors to enhance their overall travel experience.
In addition, the measures call for piloting international medical tourism hubs in eligible regions and for encouraging local authorities to host more sports events with global impact.
The measures go beyond tourism and cover a wider range of lifestyle services, including business activities, sports events, health services, and education and training, aiming to meet more diversified consumption needs, according to Li Jun, director of the Institute of International Trade in Services under the Ministry of Commerce.
"The measures will help China become a globally attractive inbound consumption destination, expected to attract more overseas tourists to China for private traveling and spending, as well as more overseas business visitors to participate in business activities," said Li.
In response to the obstacles international tourists face when traveling in China, the measures introduce a series of measures across various aspects, including payments, tax refunds, communication, and ticketing, said Dai Bin, president of the China Tourism Academy.
"There are still some obstacles for foreign tourists when it comes to tourism, leisure, vacation, and consumption in China. Therefore, the policy measures introduced this time are very targeted, aiming to remove these barriers and make it easier for foreigners to shop and spend in China," he said.
Dai also noted that the measures call for building a national tourism brand, strengthening targeted global marketing, and improving visa policies so as to encourage more international tourists to visit China -- and make it easier for them to do so.
"Today's inbound tourism is far more than simply visiting mountains, rivers, scenery; it's a comprehensive and immersive experience of all the wonderful lifestyles, including shopping, culture and entertainment. Therefore, we should help more foreigners discover our new culture, art, film and television and sports events," he said.
China unveils measures to boost inbound consumption by foreign tourists
