BEIJING, 16th July, 2024 (WAM) -- China saw a surge in international travellers in the first half of the year, with tourists maximising on the country's visa-free policies and diverse payment options, including the acceptance of foreign bank cards.
According to China Central Television (CCTV), official statistics indicate that approximately 14.64 million foreign nationals entered the country through various ports during the first half of the year, marking a 152.7 percent increase compared to the previous year. Of these arrivals, over 8.54 million entered visa-free, constituting 52 percent of the total, representing a 190.1 percent rise from last year.
Among the most popular tourist destinations is Xi'an, the provincial capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, as it welcomed more than 190,000 foreign tourists between January and June.
With the influx of visitors from around the world, China has worked to address the challenges they face due to differences in payment systems.
According to mobile payment giant Alipay, in the first half of this year, the amount of money paid by inbound tourists using the app rose eightfold year-on-year. Meanwhile, the number of Chinese merchants using Alipay to do business with international tourists tripled compared to the same period last year.