Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, May 20 (Xinhua) — China’s streamlined visa rules and tax refund system are boosting the country’s inbound tourism, boosting the global popularity of the “China Travel” trend, officials said.
Speaking on the latest episode of the China Economic Roundtable (organized by Xinhua News Agency), Liu Jia, an official from China’s National Immigration Administration, stressed that China’s updated visa-free entry rules reduce bureaucratic procedures as well as time and cost for foreign tourists.
Since 2023, China has implemented a set of measures to stimulate inbound tourism, including expanding mutual visa-free agreements, unilateral visa-free regime for individual countries, and extending the visa-free stay in China for foreign tourists.
To date, China has established full mutual visa-free regimes with 29 countries, unilateral visa-free entry for citizens of 38 countries, and a transit visa-free regime for 54 countries (including the UK, US and Canada).
At the same time, the tax refund system for foreign tourists has been optimized. Shoppers can now instantly receive VAT refunds at duty-free stores, while China has lowered the minimum purchase amount for a tax refund, increased the limit on the amount of tax refunds in cash, and expanded the range of goods eligible for tax refunds.
Shi Zeyi, an official from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of China, noted that thanks to the improvement of visa, payment and tax policies, “China Travel” has shown a steady recovery and significant growth potential.
According to 2024 data, China recorded 132 million inbound tourist trips, and total tourist spending reached US$94.2 billion, accounting for 97.2 percent and 93.5 percent of those in 2019, respectively.
Liu Jia added that the increase in foreign tourist flow has stimulated consumption in the hotel, retail and cultural and entertainment sectors, which is conducive to the development of trade in services and attracting foreign investment.
He stressed that these updated measures demonstrate China’s commitment to opening up, adding that they can help deepen cultural understanding between China and the international community while breaking down bad stereotypes that exist in some countries.
“The personal experiences of foreign tourists help dispel misunderstandings and prejudices, allowing the world to see, feel and perceive an open, inclusive, prosperous, stable and safe China,” Liu Jia concluded. -0-