Data from travel platforms indicates that inbound tourism orders to China surged by 130 percent during the five – day Labor Day holiday. Foreign tourists are no longer confining their visits to China’s major metropolises; instead, they are also flocking to smaller cities in search of diverse experiences. Moreover, many travelers have taken the opportunity to make purchases in China, capitalizing on the country’s newly introduced tax refund policies.
Experts believe that the influx of international tourists not only gives a significant boost to China’s consumption and tourism sectors but also allows foreigners to gain firsthand experience of the real China, thereby enhancing the nation’s international image.
According to Trip.com Group, a leading Chinese online travel service, the number of inbound tourism orders witnessed a year – on – year surge of 130 percent during the five – day Labor Day holiday that started on Thursday. Many foreign travelers are immersing themselves in agricultural experiences, and “shopping in China” has emerged as a new trend. Trip.com Group shared this information with the Global Times on Monday.
A news release from Qunar, a Chinese travel platform, sent to the Global Times revealed that the 240 – hour visa – free policy and the refund – upon – purchase policy for tax – free shopping have comprehensively spurred inbound tourism during the holiday.
In terms of the countries of origin for inbound tourists, the United States, South Korea, and Japan accounted for the highest proportion. Among them, tourists from Australia saw the highest year – on – year growth rate, which was 1.5 times. The growth rates of tourists from Vietnam and Canada also exceeded 80 percent, as reported by Qunar.
Based on the booking of domestic flights on the Qunar platform during the holiday with non – Chinese passports, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Hangzhou still ranked among the top five destinations for inbound tourism. However, cities such as Chengdu, Xiamen, Nanjing, Chongqing, and Haikou have seen an increase in the number of inbound tourists.
From May 1 to 3, Beijing recorded 27,000 inbound trips, an 80.8 – percent increase compared to last year. Guangzhou witnessed 154,000 inbound trips, up 23 percent, according to border authorities. The Shanghai Border Inspection Station projected that there would be 594,000 passenger trips at the city’s various ports between May 1 and 5, representing a year – on – year rise of 30.7 percent.
In addition to first – tier cities, foreign travelers are also starting to explore more places in China. Cities such as Zhuhai, Suzhou, and Foshan saw an increase in the number of foreign visitors during the holiday.
A Norwegian traveler named Vebjørn told the Global Times that he was deeply impressed by his experience in Chongqing. “How can you capture the essence of a place like this? It’s the land where skyscrapers stand against the mountain walls. The extremely spicy and delicious hotpot is so intense that it rattles your senses and challenges your stomach. Wandering in the neon – lit night creates a thousand memories. I truly love this city.”
“One of the first things that struck me was how efficient everything is in China. You can order anything and have it delivered incredibly fast no matter where you are. Transportation is also highly punctual. And I was amazed by the numerous huge cities, each with its own unique charm,” said Vebjørn.
During the holiday, a video of a foreign traveler tilling the land with local farmers in the Longji Rice Terraces in South China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region went viral on Chinese social media. Netizens joked that the holiday is indeed the International Workers’ Day, and the tourist has fully embraced the spirit of the holiday.
Sunny, a person in charge of marketing at the farm in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, which is part of the Wulingyuan scenic area famous for its towering quartz sandstone pillars, revealed that since April, overseas orders from countries including the United States, Italy, and Spain have increased significantly. In addition to the beautiful landscape scenery of Zhangjiajie, tourists are showing a growing interest in participating in farming activities such as catching fish in the paddy fields and catching loaches, financial magazine Caijing reported.
