Opinion: Promoting Tourism to China Has a Multitude of Benefits

[para. 1] In recent developments, attracting foreign tourists to China has emerged as a significant growth point for the domestic economy. This trend has been particularly evident since the beginning of 2024, with noticeable spikes in foreign visitors. For example, weekend trips from South Korea to Shanghai have become increasingly popular. Data from an online travel platform indicates that during the 2024 Lunar New Year holiday, hotel and flight bookings from South Korea to China experienced more than a fivefold increase compared to the same period in the previous year. Shanghai, Qingdao, Beijing, Guangzhou, and Yanbian in Jilin province are noted as top destinations for these tourists, highlighting the vast potential in China’s inbound tourism market.

[para. 2] Promoting tourism serves multiple roles: stimulating consumption, creating job opportunities, and increasing the services sector’s contribution to the economy, thereby accelerating the pace of economic transformation in China. Tourism also acts as a bridge for cross-border engagement, fostering mutual understanding, respect, and tolerance, which are crucial for reinforcing international cooperation. However, to capitalize on these benefits, further enhancements in both soft and hard infrastructure are necessary.

[para. 3] China has been proactive in optimizing its visa policies to facilitate this tourism boom. The nation has established mutual visa-free agreements with 26 countries and unilaterally waived visa requirements for citizens of 38 countries, including South Korea and Japan, for trips lasting up to 30 days. The expanded visa-free transit program covers 54 countries and extends visit durations to a maximum of 240 hours, or 10 days, broadening the scope of the program to 21 more ports of entry. Additionally, relaxed visa policies have been announced for Hainan, allowing entry without a visa from 59 countries, and expanding the 144-hour visa-free policy for tours from Hong Kong and Macao.

[para. 4] The impact of these policies is evident. The National Immigration Administration reported an 82.9% increase in foreign entries and exits, reaching 64.88 million instances last year. Visa-exempt foreign entrants soared by 112.3%, with a significant rise in those utilizing the transit visa exemption policy. These trends underline a robust demand for tourism in China and underscore the substantial untapped potential in this sector.

[para. 5][para. 6] Despite these advances, the tourism sector is still recovering from the downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2019, 97.67 million foreign entries and exits were recorded, but this number fell drastically over the next three years. With the easing of pandemic restrictions and visa policy relaxations, foreign entries and exits increased to 35.48 million in 2023. Although growth continued in 2024, foreign visits are still around two-thirds of pre-pandemic levels.

[para. 7] Recognizing the importance of tourism, China has invested in improving its tourism infrastructure significantly over the past forty years. This commitment has led to the country's rank rising to eighth on the World Economic Forum’s 2024 Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index. The 20th CPC Central Committee’s Third Plenary Session highlighted the need to improve systems that facilitate the easier entry, residence, medical care, and payment processes for foreign nationals, further boosting China’s appeal in the global tourism market.

[para. 8][para. 9] Accelerating the recovery in inbound tourism will require attention to public opinion and a favorable image online to encourage visits. Addressing existing barriers and taking a comprehensive approach that includes restoring international flights, simplifying customs, enhancing language accessibility, and creating adaptable payment systems are vital. This effort is not just the tourism sector’s responsibility but is influenced by international relations and domestic economic conditions as well.

[para. 10] As China faces challenges due to insufficient domestic demand, the role of inbound tourism becomes increasingly critical. Initiatives to enhance exchanges between Chinese and foreigners, attract foreign investment, and develop foreign trade are vital for fostering an environment conducive to high-quality development. With the 2025 Lunar New Year approaching, there is optimism for a robust year across domestic, inbound, and outbound tourism markets.