Three perspectives on the new changes in inbound tourism
2026-05-29
On overseas social media platforms, similar terms such as "China Travel", "Most Chinese", and "Becoming Chinese" continue to be popular. More and more foreigners are sharing their experiences of traveling to China, recording their feelings about Chinese culture, and telling their views on China in various ways. These vivid expressions not only reflect the continuous improvement of tourism convenience in China, but also shape new forms of cultural exchange between China and foreign countries. Data shows that in the first quarter of this year, China's travel service exports reached 105.35 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 32.3%, ranking first in the growth rate of service exports in various fields. Short video blogger Chen Rui: "Nowadays, foreign tourists are more interested in seeing the 'Li Zi' of Chongqing." The studio of short video blogger Chen Rui (online name "Ruige English") is not far from the famous internet celebrity check-in point "Liziba Monorail Through the Tower" in Chongqing. Outside his studio window, in recent years, there have often been foreign faces holding cameras, holding phones, and looking curious and surprised. Foreigners who were only occasionally seen in the past have gathered in groups in the past two years. I can go around Liziba and meet at least five or six groups of foreigners in an hour. ”Chen Rui is a native of Chongqing. "I often chat with them. In the past, they were just taking a quick look at the scenery, but now foreign tourists are more interested in seeing Chongqing's' neighborhood 'and experiencing the local lifestyle." In early 2024, Chen Rui began publishing cross-cultural English science popularization videos on short video platforms, using American pronunciation and local style to break through the circle, with over 8 million fans at home and abroad. After becoming popular on the Internet, he often receives cooperation invitations from some overseas bloggers, including American chef Joshua. Joshua's video account has millions of fans overseas. Before coming to Chongqing, he made a list of "One Dollar Snack Challenge". What he wants to eat is the street vendors from Chongqing, from snacks to big ones. "Chen Rui led Joshua into an old alley in Chongqing. In front of the stall with only a few low stools, Joshua said, "This is completely different from the Chinese cuisine we used to eat in Chinatown. Only by coming to China can we truly experience China's food culture." In addition to internet celebrity bloggers, Chen Rui often receives inquiries and sharing from ordinary foreign tourists. In recent years, the development and progress of Chinese technology have surprised many foreigners. They have seen that the hotel's automatic delivery robots can turn in the corridor, take the elevator to deliver takeout to guests, and can surround and take photos for half a day, "said Chen Rui. Thanks to the visa free policy, German tourists Jacob and his wife started their trip to China a week ago. Before coming here, my impression was still stuck in some old reports. I always felt that China was gray and full of factories, "Jacob said. When he really set foot on the land of Chongqing, this stereotype was instantly broken. Chongqing is like a futuristic city in the world of science fiction! The inclusivity and diversity here can only be truly understood by personally visiting, "Jacob said. In recent years, my fan base has been increasing, but in reality, I am 'riding' on Chongqing's traffic. ”Chen Rui said. In recent years, Chongqing has been deeply promoting the construction of world-renowned tourist destinations, accurately focusing on the actual needs of overseas tourists, and creating a successful cultural and tourism promotion and city brand image. Li Zhenzhen, Director of the Cultural and Tourism Development Committee of Yuzhong District, Chongqing, introduced that in response to the payment, transportation, communication and other details that foreign tourists are concerned about, the local government has continuously improved its "one-stop" services. In 2025, the number of inbound overnight tourists increased by 107.3% year-on-year. Dominic, a British resident living in China, said, 'Here, you can live the diverse life you want.' 'In China, all you need is a mobile phone to go out.'. ”In Dominic's phone, a young man from the south of England, various lifestyle apps are readily available. "I never thought I would settle in Beijing, but now I have fallen in love with this ancient yet modern city," Dominic said. In 2017, a friend asked him if he wanted to come to Beijing to work as an English teacher. What if I can't understand Chinese? Is Chinese life convenient? Can Chinese food satisfy my appetite? "With anxiety and curiosity, Dominic set foot on this unfamiliar land. After a year of experience, Dominic decided to stay in China: "The people here are very enthusiastic and thoughtful, and there are also many job opportunities." Dominic has moved several times in Beijing - from the hutongs around the Drum Tower to the neighborhoods near the Olympic Forest Park. I like to spend hours strolling in the hutongs, hiking in the suburbs, and taking walks in the parks near my home, "Dominic sighed." Here, you can live the diverse lives you want. "Behind the convenience is the support of policies. Around the diverse needs of foreign nationals, Beijing has built a wide coverage and excellent experience of foreign-related service network: launched a new "one-stop" transit visa free mode, set up a special area for "temporary entry permit" processing, and greatly improved the efficiency of customs clearance and inspection; Beijing's urban rail transit has achieved full network, full time, and full gate support for the five major international card organizations to pass through the gates; Pioneering the new model of "city wide tax refund and one-stop service", promoting the first cross-border mutual recognition of "buy and refund" for outbound tax refunds between Beijing and Tianjin... With the implementation of convenient measures for inbound tourism services such as visas, customs clearance, payment, accommodation, and transportation, more and more foreign tourists are embarking on a happy China trip, and Beijing has become one of the most popular inbound tourist destinations. ”Wang Rui, Director of the External Exchange and Cooperation Department of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism, introduced that by 2025, Beijing will receive a total of 5.48 million inbound tourists, a year-on-year increase of 39%. It's very convenient to come to China now. My mother has been to Beijing 5 times already, and many British friends are also planning to travel to China. ”Dominic said, "The convenience of policies attracts more people to explore the true face of China, and more and more foreigners are falling in love with this place." Now, Dominic has married and had children with Chinese girl Li Dong, and has also filmed what he saw and heard in Beijing and posted it on social media platforms at home and abroad: "I want to show the world the beauty of Beijing life." Travel agency manager Zhang Wei said, "Not only do I check in the mountains and waters, but I also experience culture." Early in the morning, Zhang Wei, the general manager of Hunan Zhangjiajie Nabeli International Travel Agency, rang on his phone. On the other end of the phone is a Korean inbound tourism partner. Korean teams with an average age of 60 and above were common in Zhangjiajie more than a decade ago. At that time, there was a popular saying in Korea that 'taking parents to Zhangjiajie is the true filial piety'. ”Zhang Wei said, "Nowadays, Zhangjiajie has also become popular among young people in South Korea." From the movie "Avatar" which made Zhangjiajie famous worldwide, to the line "Let's go to Zhangjiajie next year to see the autumn leaves" in the popular Korean drama "Encounter You After All the Hardship", Zhangjiajie has become a romantic destination in the hearts of more and more young people in South Korea. In the past three years, the growth rate of young and middle-aged customers has exceeded 30%. These foreign tourists not only take photos of the scenery, but also experience culture. ”With the change of tourists' structure and demand, Zhang Wei led the travel agency to set up an Internet marketing team that understands Korean to deeply cultivate the content of overseas social media; Cooperate with a group of high-end characteristic homestays in Zhangjiajie to launch experience projects such as tea art, calligraphy, and brocade weaving. In April of this year, Ms. Jin from South Korea finally fulfilled her long-standing wish to travel to Zhangjiajie. Her favorite activity is experiencing unique intangible cultural heritage such as Tujia brocade weaving: "I sat in front of the brocade machine for two hours and took many videos to send to my friends and family in South Korea." In recent years, Hunan has successively issued "Twelve Measures to Promote the Development of Inbound Tourism in Hunan" and "Action Plan for the Construction of Zhangjiajie International Tourism Zone". Encrypt international air routes, expand departure tax refunds, improve port efficiency, benefit foreign tourists, and also benefit cultural and tourism practitioners, "said Zhang Wei. In 2025, Zhangjiajie will receive 1.3303 million inbound tourists, a year-on-year increase of 32.79%, covering 192 countries and regions. Ding Shibiao, Deputy General Manager of Star Travel Agency, which mainly engages in the reception of European and American tourists, introduced that "European and American tourists not only enjoy shopping, but also enjoy experiencing high-quality accommodation, catering, and outdoor projects." In Zhangjiajie, new and unique experiences such as Seven Star Mountain Flying Rada, Grand Canyon bungee jumping, and hiking through forest parks attract young people from all over the world. Live performances such as "Charming Xiangxi" are broadcasted with multilingual subtitles, and the popularity of international street dance week, international new acrobatic drama week, XTERRA off-road running world series continues to rise. Zhang Wei admitted that the pain points of inbound tourism in the past were mainly focused on payment, language, and customs clearance efficiency. Nowadays, Zhangjiajie actively recruits bilingual talents and has established a mechanism for civil servant exchange and training, as well as youth exchange and learning, with Hedong County, South Korea. Scenic guide maps, signs, and safety reminders are all covered in multiple languages. The supply of the cultural and tourism market needs to be more refined in order to adapt to the constantly changing consumption demands of tourists, "said Zhang Wei. (Looking into the New Era)
Edit:He Chuanning Responsible editor:Su Suiyue
Source:People's Daily
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