Receptive tourism in China has exceeded expectations in the first half of the year, thanks to the expansion of visa-free transit policies and the improvement of tax refund services for travelers.
Shanghai, one of the country’s main entry points, received more than 4.2 million visitors between January and June, which represents a year-on-year increase of more than 38%.
One of the most visited places by tourists who arrive in China is the Great Wall, one of the New 7 Wonders of the World.
Tax-free purchases also skyrocketed, with an 85% increase in tax-refund sales. For its part, purchases with immediate return are multiplied by 28 compared to last year.
Other destinations also experienced strong growth. For example, Hainan, in southern China, received 663,000 foreign travelers during the first half of the year, which is an increase of 48%. Almost 90% of them entered the province with the visa exemption policy for tourism.
In Hunan, more than 780,000 international visitors traveled through this province, which represents an increase of 7% compared to the previous year. More than 94% of these travelers chose this province for leisure reasons. Natural enclaves such as Zhangjiajie became the most popular destinations in Hunan, especially among tourists in the Republic of Korea.