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

The European Union (EU) on Saturday urged Israel to reopen all Gaza border crossings to allow immediate, unimpeded access and sustained distribution of humanitarian assistance and early recovery support at scale.

In a statement published by the European External Action Service (EEAS), the EU reiterated its grave concern over the persistent and devastating humanitarian crisis in Gaza. It said the severe flooding and winter conditions impacting the enclave are further aggravating the living conditions of an already exhausted population, exacerbating unsafe conditions and human suffering.

The statement noted that a year after the ceasefire was announced, military strikes continue and shortages of essential items persist due to restricted access, resulting in the absence of acceptable and dignified living conditions.

The EU urged Israel to enable the work of the United Nations and its agencies, and humanitarian organizations, including non-governmental organizations, and to comply with all its obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law and international human rights law.

The bloc underlined the need to respect international law, including international humanitarian law, at all times, particularly the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure, as well as medical personnel and facilities. It described the recent airstrike on Nasser Hospital as "deeply alarming."

Reaffirming its commitment to the two-state solution, the EU called on all actors to fully implement the provisions of UN Security Council Resolution 2803 without delay, in line with relevant UN Security Council resolutions and international political and legal principles, in particular the permanent decommissioning of weapons from Hamas and other non-state armed groups, the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and the civilian transition in Gaza.

The statement stressed that Hamas should not have any role in the future governance of Gaza.

On Nov. 7, Gaza's civil defense authorities declared a state of maximum emergency as a rainstorm flooded around 70,000 tents housing displaced Palestinians and overwhelmed rescue services.

According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, about 1.4 million Palestinians, or 65 percent of Gaza's population, were living in tents or makeshift shelters. It warned that humanitarian shelter stocks inside Gaza were virtually exhausted, while more than 150,000 tents remained outside the territory awaiting entry. However, Israel says it restricts certain materials over concerns that Hamas could use them for military purposes.

EU urges Israel to reopen all Gaza crossings, allow unimpeded humanitarian aid