Foreign visitors impressed by easier sales tax refunds

Holiday bonanza

The recent surge in inbound travelers is expected to continue during the May Day holiday that runs from May 1 to May 5, analysts said. The booking volume for inbound travel products for the holiday has already surged over 170 percent year-on-year, according to Trip.com Group, China's largest online travel agency.

Last year, China recorded 132 million passenger trips by inbound travelers, a 61 percent year-on-year jump. The figure was more than 90 percent of the pre-pandemic level in 2019, representing a major rebound in the sector, according to the China Tourism Academy.

China plans to further expand its visa-free entry policy while optimizing its tax refund policies for overseas visitors.

"We will continue to innovate consumption scenarios, create an internationally friendly consumption environment and further promote inbound consumption," said Li Gang, director-general of the Ministry of Commerce's department of market operation and consumption promotion.

China's visa policies have been continuously adjusted and optimized. Currently, the country grants unilateral visa-free entry to 38 countries and has extended the transit visa-free period to 240 hours for travelers from 54 countries.

In 2024, visa-free entries reached 20.12 million visits, marking a year-on-year increase of 112.3 percent, according to official data.

In addition to easing visa access, China is working to improve transportation links to better serve overseas travelers.

Xu Qing, head of the transport department of the Civil Aviation Administration of China, said international passenger flights will be increased and airlines will be encouraged to expand into emerging markets.

Xu added that China will also encourage major airports to upgrade service counters, and provide one-stop assistance that covers tourism, payments, transportation and telecommunications. Efforts are also underway to enhance departure tax refund services by encouraging more airports to open tax refund stores.

At the same time, China is accelerating the development of international consumption center cities to further stimulate inbound spending.

The country is working to transform five cities — Shanghai, Beijing, Tianjin, Chongqing and Guangzhou in Guangdong — into major shopping centers.

In 2024, the number of inbound foreign travelers to these cities doubled compared with the previous year.

Together, they now account for nearly 70 percent of the country's departure tax refund stores and more than half of imported consumer goods.

China also plans to host more high-level international sports competitions and performances. It is supporting the growth of new sectors such as recreational vehicle camping, cruise tourism, and motor racing to provide overseas visitors with a wider range of modern, dynamic experiences, Sheng said.

The commerce ministry, together with five other bodies, launched the "Shopping in China" campaign on April 13 to help spur domestic consumption.

This year stands as the inaugural year of the campaign. Various promotional activities will be carried out nationwide throughout the year.

Xinhua contributed to this story.