Foreign tourists stroll near the National Palace Museum in China’s capital Beijing on Wednesday.Chinese daily newspaper
The measures come after China announced various policies and plans, including offering visa-free travel to citizens from more than a dozen countries and increasing international flights to bring more foreign tourists into the country. There is clear evidence that it is bearing fruit. While the huge number of domestic tourists is certainly more exciting and dramatic, the number of foreign tourists visiting Japan is also increasing. Let’s analyze some trends and good news ahead of China Tourism Day on May 19th.
The number of foreigners visiting China in the first quarter of this year more than tripled compared to the same period in 2023, and the number of foreign visas issued totaled 466,000, an increase of 118.8% year-on-year.
Travelers to China who take the time to seek accurate information will find that the politically driven negative narratives about China emanating from certain countries such as Australia, Canada, the UK and the US are completely false. . This makes it easy for them to explore this fascinating country, its people, history and culture.
China is simplifying visa application procedures, increasing flights and promoting people-to-people exchanges. In fact, the topic of international tourism is so important that it was discussed at the China-US presidential meeting in San Francisco last November. Cultural exchange and communication are part of the international exchange that we all need and want to enjoy, despite our political differences.
The Chinese government and other aid organizations need to redouble their efforts to debunk disinformation propaganda that makes foreign tourists unnecessarily wary of visiting China. For example, some Western media and academics have argued that the Chinese government’s tightening of social regulations may cause discomfort to foreign tourists visiting China. However, such negative publicity has no reliable basis.
As a foreigner who has lived in China for 25 years, I can assure international travelers that there are no creepy “tightened social regulations” that can ruin your stay. In fact, most foreigners living in China feel that they have more freedom, stability, and security in their daily lives in China than they did in their home country.
There are persistent rumors that foreigners cannot use China’s mobile app payment system, but these concerns have actually been resolved. My brother, a US citizen, visited China for the first time earlier this month and easily set up his Alipay account using a foreign debit/credit card, which is conveniently accepted worldwide.
This year saw a significant increase in foreign tourists to China, thanks to the expansion of the 144-hour visa-free transit policy and the 15-day visa-free entry policy for nationals of more countries, including France, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands. increased to , Spain and Malaysia. In the first quarter of this year, the number of foreigners entering the country without a visa reached 1.988 million, an increase of 266.1% compared to the same period last year.
Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou and Shenzhen in Guangdong province, Sanya in Hainan province, and Chengdu in Sichuan province are among the popular destinations for foreign tourists. In these popular cities and many other destinations, cultural and historical attractions foster cultural and other exchanges and help boost China’s growth.
According to the latest United Nations World Trade Organization Tourism Confidence Index survey, the number of foreign tourists is expected to increase further this year, with China’s continued efforts to make the travel experience more convenient for foreigners. The trend is likely to continue.
Any relevant information is worth mentioning here. The number of foreigners living in China has reached 85% of its pre-pandemic level. As more foreigners live in China, more foreign friends and family come to visit them.
Another notable trend is the increasing number of video bloggers traveling to China and contributing to the tourism industry by posting videos of their adventures in China on social media platforms around the world. is.
It’s nice to know that many foreign tourists are surprised at how safe China is, no matter what part of the country they are in. Unlike many other countries where crime and instability are major concerns, China is currently the safest, most stable, successful and capable country in the world, a place to appreciate, enjoy and remember for a lifetime. It is the destination that remains.
The author is an American writer living in China and a nonresident senior fellow at the China Center on Globalization. The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.
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