"'Visa-Free Effect' Boosts Chinese Foreign Tourists by 60%... 'More Will Come to Korea'"

Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan Remain Major Tourism Markets
Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen Also See Rise in Tourist Numbers

As China lifted visa restrictions, the number of overseas tourists visiting China last year increased by more than 60%.

Multiple Chinese media outlets, including Zhongguangwang, Guangmingwang, and People's Daily, reported on the 28th, citing the "China Tourism Development Report" released by the China Tourism Academy, that a total of 131.9 million people traveled to China last year. This represents a 61% increase compared to the previous year.

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Guangmingwang analyzed, "The visa-free policy appears to have had a significant impact on revitalizing overseas tourism," adding, "In addition, China's promotional efforts in payment systems and accommodations also proved effective."

The report explained, "Following last year, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan will continue to be major tourism markets this year," noting that these markets grew by 54% year-on-year, attracting approximately 104.96 million travelers. Among them, Beijing recorded 3.21 million visitors last year, and Shanghai recorded 4.97 million. The report stated, "Beijing and Shanghai boast China's vast cultural heritage and modern urban landscapes, attracting many tourists."

Not only nearby countries such as Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand but also countries like Hungary, Bulgaria, Poland, and Mexico are visiting China. The report pointed out, "The Chinese tourism markets of South Korea and Japan, which implemented visa exemption policies from the end of last year, are expected to grow further."

The report also emphasized, "To ensure foreign tourists do not face difficulties during their travels, attention should be paid to electronic maps in various languages, reservations for popular attractions, and overseas application (app) logins." It added that travel information including China's geography, history and cultural background, climate conditions, transportation, tourism resources, accommodations, and recommended restaurants should be enhanced to increase the satisfaction of travelers visiting China.

It further expressed optimism, stating, "Searches for flights to China and accommodations by foreigners in the first quarter of this year have increased compared to the same period last year," and "Demand for travel to China is expected to continue rising."