Convenient travel services boost China's tourism

Visa-free policies, smooth digital payments, multilingual services and internationally integrated transport networks are working together to further facilitate overseas visitors' travel to China.

China's inbound tourism market is heating up this summer, with overseas travelers venturing beyond first- and second-tier cities into smaller, culturally rich third- and fourth-tier destinations. They have moved from quick sightseeing and photo-taking to immerse them deeper in cultural engagements.

Passenger traffic at Beijing Capital International Airport and Beijing Daxing International Airport has surged noticeably this summer. In July alone, the two airports recorded over 600,000 inbound and outbound foreign travelers, a year-on-year increase of 31 percent.

Thanks to continuously optimized visa-free transit policies, international visitors can embark on a hassle-free cultural exploration from the moment they step off the plane. Both airports in Beijing have opened up dedicated processing zones and clearance channels for "one-stop" visa-free transits.

The Chinese capital has rolled out a new all-in-one digital service platform, "GO BEIJING" or "Enter Beijing," designed to remove common hassles for overseas travelers from language barriers and payment headaches to navigating local services. It supports 16 languages and offers 39 kinds of services, including admission booking, hotel reservations and ride-hailing.

"I'm very excited to travel China for three weeks, starting in Beijing, going through Shanxi Province to Xi'an and then through to Shanghai. And I think the visa free policy makes it a lot easier for me as a traveler. I don't have to fill out a lot of paperwork and pay a fee. It just allows me to explore China without having to deal with any of that hassle. And yeah, it makes my life a lot easier," said a tourist from Australia.

Beyond streamlined entry, convenient payment options have also left a strong impression on foreign visitors. Approximately 18,000 key businesses across Beijing now accept foreign bank cards.

"We use a lot of Alipay and I was surprised that we can order, for example, meals in the restaurant by Alipay. It's a good solution and it saves time," said a visitor from Poland.

In a cultural exchange, international students from more than 20 countries, including Canada, Australia, Argentina and Brazil, visited Beijing's Shougang Park, gaining firsthand insight into the park's transformation from an industrial steel complex into an innovative urban hub.

The Temple of Heaven, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and centerpiece of Beijing's Central Axis, continues to draw large numbers of foreign tourists, captivated by the 15th-century Chinese artisans' craftsmanship and ingenuity.

Convenient travel services boost China's tourism

Annual inflation in the eurozone is expected to edge up to 2.9 percent in July from 2.8 percent in June, according to a flash estimate released by Eurostat on Friday.

The increase was mainly driven by renewed energy price pressure. Energy prices are expected to rise 10.0 percent year-on-year in July, up from 8.5 percent in June, according to Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union (EU). Services inflation is also expected to rise to 3.3 percent from 3.2 percent a month earlier.

Food, alcohol and tobacco prices are estimated to rise 1.2 percent year-on-year, down from 1.5 percent in June, while non-energy industrial goods are expected to post an annual inflation rate of 0.9 percent, up from 0.7 percent. Core inflation, which excludes energy, food, alcohol and tobacco, is estimated at 2.5 percent in July, up from 2.4 percent in June.

According to Eurostat data, inflation rose in three of the eurozone's largest economies in July. Germany's rate increased to 2.8 percent from 2.4 percent in June, France's to 2.4 percent from 2.0 percent, and Spain's to 3.8 percent from 3.6 percent. Italy's rate, meanwhile, edged down to 2.9 percent from 3.0 percent.

Among eurozone members with available data, Lithuania is estimated to have posted the highest annual inflation rate in July at 5.6 percent, while Estonia is estimated to have posted the lowest at 2.0 percent.

The data came after the European Central Bank (ECB) decided last week to keep its three key interest rates unchanged. The ECB said that the outlook for energy prices remained highly volatile and the full inflationary impact of the energy shock had yet to play out.

Eurozone inflation edges up to 2.9 pct in July as energy prices rise