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South China Morning Post
25-05-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Alibaba's Amap offers ride-hailing function catering to foreign visitors in China
Amap , the mapping and local services business under Alibaba Group Holding , has introduced a ride-hailing feature on the platform's English version, allowing foreign visitors in mainland China to get transport in more than 360 domestic cities. The new feature, which comes months after Amap's English-language version was launched in February, is accessible via a button on the homepage. Initially, the app will accept users' registered mainland, Hong Kong and Macau phone numbers. The new Amap feature reflects the private sector's support for China's visa-free travel scheme , which allows visitors from 43 countries to stay for up to 30 days on the mainland. The scheme also allows citizens from dozens of other countries to spend 240 hours on the mainland during transit. The Amap sign is seen at the company's headquarters in Beijing. Photo: Shutterstock During the Labour Day 'golden week' holiday from May 1 to 5, some 380,000 foreign visitors entered the mainland visa-free, up 73 per cent from a year earlier, according to data from the National Immigration Administration.
Daily News Egypt
22-05-2025
- Business
- Daily News Egypt
'China Travel' trending amid visa, tax policy boost
China's optimized visa and tax refund policies have given a boost to inbound tourism, fueling the trending of 'China Travel' globally, officials said. Speaking on the latest episode of China Economic Roundtable, an all-media talk show hosted by Xinhua News Agency, Liu Jia, an official with the National Immigration Administration, highlighted that the updated visa-free policies have waived procedures and reduced time and financial burdens for foreign travelers, making it easier to visit China. China has introduced a slew of policies to facilitate inbound travel since 2023. Major steps taken included expanding mutual visa exemptions and unilateral visa-free access, and extending visa-free entry stay for international visitors. As of now, China has established comprehensive mutual visa exemptions with 29 countries, implemented unilateral visa-free policies for 38 countries, and transit visa-free policies for 54 countries including Britain, the United States and Canada. Tax refund schemes for international travelers have been optimized as well. While allowing foreign shoppers to instantly claim tax rebates at tax-free stores, China has also lowered the minimum purchase threshold for refunds, raised the cash refund ceiling and widened the range of products available. Speaking on the roundtable, Shi Zeyi, an official with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, said that with continuous improvements in visa, payment and tax policies, 'China Travel' has demonstrated robust recovery momentum and broad growth prospects. Last year, China recorded 132 million inbound trips, with total tourism spending reaching 94.2 billion U.S. dollars, recovering to 97.2 percent and 93.5 percent of 2019 levels, respectively, according to Shi. Liu noted that the influx of foreign visitors has spurred consumption across sectors such as hospitality, retail and cultural services, contributing to the growth of the service trade and attracting foreign investment. These updated policies are evidence of China's commitment to opening up, Liu said, adding that they could help foster deeper cultural understanding between China and the international community, breaking stereotypes held by some countries. 'First-hand experience can help dispel misunderstandings and biases, enabling the world to see, feel and recognize an open, inclusive, prosperous, stable and safe China,' Liu said.
The Independent
16-05-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Holiday inbound tourism thrives
China's inbound tourism market saw strong recovery and growth during the May Day holiday, with smaller cities attracting more foreign visitors seeking cultural experiences, according to industry insiders. During the five-day break from 1 May to 5 May, inbound travel bookings surged 130 per cent from a year earlier, said Group, China's largest online travel agency. While top-tier cities such as Beijing and Shanghai remained popular, destinations including Chengdu in Sichuan province, Chongqing, Hangzhou in Zhejiang province, Zhuhai in Guangdong province, and Xi'an in Shaanxi province also made the list of top inbound choices. China has been opening its doors wider to international travellers. In 2024, the country expanded its unilateral visa-free policy to include 38 countries, allowing visits of up to 30 days, according to the National Immigration Administration. Favourable tax refund policies have also boosted inbound travel. In late April, China lowered the tax refund threshold from 500 yuan (£52.07) to 200 yuan (£20.81) and raised the cash refund limit from 10,000 yuan (£1,040.53) to 20,000 yuan (£2,081.06). There is no limit on refunds processed by bank transfer, according to a guideline issued by the Ministry of Commerce and five other departments. 'We encourage relevant institutions to provide tax refund services through various means such as mobile payments, bank cards and cash, and to better meet the diverse payment service needs of overseas travellers,' said Sheng Qiuping, vice-minister of commerce, at a recent news conference in Beijing. During the holiday, tourists from the United States, South Korea and Japan made up the largest share of inbound visitors. The number of travellers from Australia, Vietnam and Canada also rose significantly, according to Beijing-based travel platform Qunar. Foreign visitors are venturing beyond major cities. Hotel bookings by foreign tourists in Zhuhai rose 70 per cent year-on-year, while Qingdao in Shandong province and Wuhan in Hubei province saw increases of 60 per cent and 50 per cent, respectively, Qunar reported. China's picturesque landscapes and rich culinary culture have frequently been featured in South Korean TV dramas and variety shows, piquing travel interest. The May Day holiday also coincides with a public holiday in South Korea, encouraging young travellers to visit China. South Korea's leading travel agency, Hana Tour, said January trips to China rose 77 per cent year-on-year, outpacing a 20 per cent increase for trips to Japan. The surge was mainly driven by China's visa-free policy. Major South Korean airlines have responded by expanding their international flight offerings to China to meet rising demand. Meanwhile, more foreign visitors are seeking immersive cultural experiences in rural areas. A resort in Zhangjiajie, Hunan province, reported a surge in bookings from tourists from the US, Italy and Spain since April. 'Besides sightseeing, foreign tourists have shown increasing interest in in-depth tours and diverse experiences, such as participating in farming activities and attending ethnic concerts,' said Fang Zexi, a Group researcher. Their cultural curiosity extends into everyday life. In Chengdu, a popular southwestern city, more foreign visitors are booking culinary experiences, visits to local farmers' markets, cooking sessions, table presentations and food tasting, said. During the five-day holiday, China recorded more than 1.11 million cross-border trips made by foreigners, a year-on-year increase of 43.1 per cent, the National Immigration Administration said.
The Mainichi
07-05-2025
- The Mainichi
Japan among popular destinations for China travelers despite warning
BEIJING (Kyodo) -- Japan was among popular destinations for Chinese travelers during the five-day Labor Day holiday through Monday, despite an earlier warning by the Chinese Embassy in the country about violent crimes and incidents of food poisoning. Chinese online travel agency Group Ltd. said Japan ranked alongside South Korea, Thailand and Malaysia as a major overseas travel destination for Chinese holidaymakers. In April, the embassy in Tokyo urged Chinese nationals to step up precautions regarding personal safety and food hygiene when traveling in Japan, citing indiscriminate killings that have occurred in some areas since last December, as well as an increase in norovirus infection cases. On Tuesday, China's National Immigration Administration said inbound and outbound cross-border trips made during the holiday period totaled some 10.9 million, up 28.7 percent from the previous year. The Chinese Culture and Tourism Ministry said the number of domestic trips made in China during the holiday period rose 6.4 percent from the previous year to 314 million.
Japan Today
06-05-2025
- Japan Today
Japan among popular destinations for China travelers despite warning
Japan was among popular destinations for Chinese travelers during the five-day Labor Day holiday that ended Monday, despite an earlier warning by the Chinese Embassy in the country about violent crimes and incidents of food poisoning. Chinese online travel agency Group Ltd said Japan ranked alongside South Korea, Thailand and Malaysia as a major overseas travel destination for Chinese holidaymakers. In April, the embassy in Tokyo urged Chinese nationals to step up precautions regarding personal safety and food hygiene when traveling in Japan, citing indiscriminate killings that have occurred in some areas since last December, as well as an increase in norovirus infection cases. On Tuesday, China's National Immigration Administration said inbound and outbound cross-border trips made during the holiday period totaled some 10.9 million, up 28.7 percent from the previous year. The Chinese Culture and Tourism Ministry said the number of domestic trips made in China during the holiday period rose 6.4 percent from the previous year to 314 million. © KYODO
