The popularity of inbound tourism continues to rise, and the degree of facilitation continues to improve.
There are more “open ways” to travel in China.
From reducing the waiting time for inspection, implementing port facilitation measures such as self-service declaration, to opening more international direct flight routes, expanding the 2-hour high-speed rail travel circle and other diversified transportation modes, to the payment method of “large swipe card, small scan code, and cash cover a variety of consumption scenarios, foreign tourists have experienced the convenience of the whole process from entry to arrival at the destination of the” last kilometer “.
With the continuous improvement of tourism facilitation, foreign tourists are no longer satisfied with sightseeing in China, but the pursuit of immersive experience. They may walk among mountains and rivers to feel the magnificence of nature; Or listen to Beijing Opera, watch intangible cultural heritage, visit museums, taste the beauty of cultural exchanges and mutual learning; Or shuttle through the streets of the city and experience the “fireworks” of the Chinese people. At the same time, they are also willing to try driverless car, electronic payment, and experience the development results of China, and China has more “open ways”.
Among the red walls and yellow tiles of the Forbidden City in Beijing, faces of different skin colors gather together. Under the neon lights of the Bund in Shanghai, the languages of different countries are interwoven into a cheerful symphony; In the Mogao Grottoes of Dunhuang, the millennium murals tell the history of cultural exchange. In the wonders of Huangshan Sea of clouds, welcoming pines attract the enthusiasm of visitors from all over the world… For some time, “China tour” has become a hot search term, tourists from all over the world to come, the land of China ushered in a lively scene. Foreigners made 554,000 trips to and from the country during this year’s Mid-Autumn Festival, up 62.2 percent from the same period last year, the National Immigration Administration said on Sept. 18.
China tour, can be a “just go” trip? In the Beijing Zoo, the reporter met Sophia, a Luxembourg girl who came specially to “visit” the giant panda Meng LAN. Thanks to China’s policy of expanding the scope of visa-free countries in March this year, eligible Luxembourg citizens can enter China without a visa. Sophia used her spare time to arrange this trip to China. “Here you are with your passport!” ‘she said excitedly. Following popular recommendations on social media, Sophia has already logged in several attractions and strongly recommends that everyone visit China.
As of the end of August, the 15-day visa-free entry policy for 15 countries has been trialled, and visa exemption has been added to 6 countries such as Singapore and Thailand, and the application scope of the 144-hour transit visa-free policy has been increased to 37 ports and 54 countries, and payment services have been continuously optimized. In recent years, a series of policies and measures to facilitate foreigners to come to China have narrowed the distance between foreign tourists and China. According to statistics, in the first seven months of this year, 17.254 million foreigners entered China at various ports, an increase of 129.9%.
Statistics show that popular destinations for overseas tourists to visit China include Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Guangzhou and Shenzhen. Chengdu, Xi ‘an and Chongqing have attracted many overseas tourists with their unique historical and cultural features. Zhuhai, Xiamen and other places are hot with beautiful natural scenery. Inbound tourism orders in the county market surged this summer, and Dali, Yiwu, Yanji, Jiuzhaigou, Tongxiang and other places have become the new favorites of overseas tourists.
Young people are the main group of tourists in China, but also the active creators of tourism propaganda content. At present, the topic of travel in overseas social media remains high. Both Internet celebrity bloggers and ordinary tourists are willing to share their colorful experiences in China online. Through their lens, the open, inclusive and colorful image of China comes to life.
Guinean tourist Sirey Balde came to China for the first time, only two days can skillfully use mobile payment, will “scan a yellow car” to enjoy the fun of riding, but also by “adding a wechat” to make new friends. He was full of praise for the ease of digital life in China and said the trip was rewarding. Brazilian guy Wagner Russel Danitez deeply loves Chinese culture and has traveled to many places in China: “The experience of traveling in China from visa to transportation, accommodation, language communication and other aspects is very smooth. The transportation system in China is developed and convenient, especially the high-speed rail network, which covers a wide range of cities and makes it easy for me to explore different attractions and cultures. In China, I experienced the diversity and inclusiveness of the culture here. The beauty of China is worth savoring.”
Dai Bin, president of the China Tourism Academy, said that the vigorous rise of inbound tourism not only highlights the strong attraction of China’s tourism market and China’s increasing international influence, but also effectively stimulates the consumption vitality of the domestic market by introducing rich international sources of tourists. At the same time, as a bridge of cultural exchange, inbound tourism helps foreign tourists to have a deeper understanding of China and enhance the friendship between people of different countries.
The increasing popularity of inbound tourism has also promoted the improvement of local tourism services and the overall level of business. Tian Jianbing, executive deputy general manager of Zhangjiajie Qixing Mountain, has a deep feeling about this: “International tourists to experience Zhangjiajie’s natural scenery, cultural history, help form a word-of mouth effect, and enhance Zhangjiajie’s visibility in the world.”
“My friends all say that Zhangjiajie is very good, and this time we come here because of its fame.” In Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, Kim Su, a tourist from South Korea, held up her mobile phone to take a photo. “I like the scenery here. The green mountains and rivers, the clouds and the sea make people feel relaxed and happy.” Jack from Illinois, USA, loves the Tujia clothing in Zhangjiajie’s 72nd Qilou scenic spot: “The clothing style here is unique, with ethnic customs, which is refreshing.”
Enjoy the city
Chongqing is constantly improving its convenient services for international tourists
Experience the charm of mountain city up close.
With a light boarding bell, Chongqing Yangtze River Ferry Co., Ltd. cruise ship “long voyage Starry River” opened the night tour. “Good evening, welcome to Chongqing Two Rivers Tour.” Lu Wei, a smiling, uniformed crew member, is standing at the entrance to the cabin to greet the boarding guests.
Four tourists from the United States looked puzzled: “We haven’t had time to change RMB.”
“The cruise ship is equipped with a POS machine, you can pay by credit card, don’t panic.” Lu Wei said. The reporter saw that in addition to the wild card swiping service provided on the cruise ship, it is also equipped with employees proficient in foreign languages and multilingual translators, making payment more convenient.
The early morning sun climbed inch by inch onto the city gate, and the ancient city of Kashgar gradually woke up. As the visitors looked forward, dancers walked out to music and a lively Kaesong ceremony began. Huang Xinchun, a tourist from Singapore, was infected by the happy atmosphere and took out his camera to record a warm and beautiful moment. “I’ve been to China many times, but this is my first time in Xinjiang.” After Huang Xinchun arrived in Xinjiang, he went straight to the ancient city of Kashgar.
Kashgar has become a popular destination for foreign tourists this summer. In the first eight months of this year, Kashgar received 105,500 inbound tourists, including 88,800 foreign tourists. The ancient city of Kashgar is the most popular scenic spot in Kashgar region.
In order to make these Chinese and foreign tourists have a good time, the ancient city of Kashgar has made great efforts. Walking through the alleys of the ancient city of Kashgar, you can see a number of traditional wood-making shops crowded with guests, and visitors of all colors are immersed in the fun of hands-on making. Maimaithi Yiming, who runs one of the shops, said: “Many foreign tourists are interested in wood carving, so I take them to experience it. I believe this kind of interaction will make their visit to Kashgar and their visit to China more impressive.”
There are also many foreign tourists who choose to experience Chinese national culture in the ancient city of Kashgar. Gao Feng, a travel photographer, said, “My shop can rent traditional Uyghur clothes, and recently many foreign tourists have been coming to rent clothes to take photos, and some people want to buy clothes to take back to their countries.” In addition, many tourists experience riding camels in the streets and hitting naan in the old teahouse. A variety of interactive experiences in the ancient city of Kashgar allow visitors to truly realize the “immersive tour”.