China’s Cabinet Issues Guidelines to Attract Tourists And Export Its Culture

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Teenagers are experiencing Chinese martial arts at an art event in Belgium on Aug. 26, 2024.

New guidelines to boost tourism were issued by China’s State Council on Monday as it seeks to cut the large deficit in its service sector.

Measures include easing visa requirements and making it simpler for tourists to use electronic payments as well as an emphasis on promoting Chinese culture abroad in areas such as martial arts, traditional Chinese medicines and cuisine.

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China’s new guidelines aim to boost tourism and address its service sector deficit by easing visa requirements and promoting Chinese culture.
In the first half of this year, China recorded a $93.29 billion deficit in service trade, with travel services contributing a $106.17 billion deficit.
Tourist trips to China surged by 129.9% year-on-year, but current entries are still 40% lower than pre-pandemic levels, prompting efforts to make travel and electronic payments easier for tourists.

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What Happened When

2024：: NIA figures estimated that tourists' entries are still 40% lower than before the pandemic struck in 2019.

First half of 2024：: China recorded a $93.29 billion deficit in its service trade, with travel services alone contributing a $106.17 billion deficit.

First seven months of 2024：: Trips to China by tourists jumped 129.9% year-on-year to 17.25 million, and some 846,000 visitors obtained visas on arrival, according to data from the National Immigration Administration.