China is accelerating efforts to stimulate service consumption by easing market entry and boosting supply in sectors like culture, sports, and healthcare, as part of its broader push to drive domestic demand for economic growth.
A 19-point guideline, jointly issued by the Ministry of Commerce and nine other ministries on Tuesday, outlines these measures, which also include stronger fiscal support and investments.
The government will further open the cultural industry, directing existing funds toward high-quality creative projects and extending opening hours for popular museums and tourist attractions.
Additional plans include hosting more international sports events, supporting local governments in organizing mass fitness activities, and reducing regulatory barriers to attract foreign and private investment in mid-to-high-end medical services.
To spur demand, the measures propose expanding visa-free entry for foreign tourists and adjusting school holiday schedules to encourage travel. Authorities also aim to encourage banks to increase lending to service-sector businesses and offer interest subsidies for key consumer loans. Last month, China introduced interest subsidies for personal consumer spending.
