Reference News Network October 9 report: Brazil's "Fórum" magazine website published an article titled "China Will Encourage the Use of International Credit Cards in Stores, Hotels and Restaurants" on October 6. The author is Yara Vidal. The following is a translated version of the article:

China announced that foreign tourists will soon be able to use international credit cards more easily for payments at stores, hotels, restaurants, and tourist attractions in the country.

This plan is part of a new action program released by the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Commerce on September 28, aimed at creating a more modern, convenient, and international consumer environment.

About 15 cities will be selected as pilot cities, each receiving subsidies from the central government.

The pilot cities are expected to create international consumption clusters, providing multilingual signs and information, accepting foreign credit cards, and offering more convenient currency exchange and tax refund services for tourists.

The idea is to provide convenience for visitors to the country, allowing foreigners to use their Visa, MasterCard, and other credit cards at hotels, restaurants, shopping malls, and tourist attractions without relying on local apps or carrying large amounts of cash.

In addition, the government hopes to enhance the international recognition of Chinese brands and products. The plan includes renovating commercial centers and supporting the development of a group of locally-based brands with fashion leadership and international influence.

Another goal is to expand the tax refund system, increasing the number of designated stores, product categories, and accelerating refund services - a measure aimed at attracting high-purchasing-power foreign tourists.

Another focus of the plan is service for foreign tourists. Pilot cities need to train business and tourism staff in other languages, set up tourism information consultation desks, and provide multilingual translation tools.

This plan is part of the broader policy of the government to stimulate domestic consumption and international tourism. In addition to making payments easier, the plan also aims to encourage cultural, sustainable, and digital consumption, integrating commerce, tourism, and technology into the same environment, with the goal of allowing tourists to comfortably consume, understand the language, travel easily, and leave a positive impression of China.

China hopes to turn shopping behavior into a window to showcase its development, demonstrating the power of its new consumer economy to the world.

In recent years, China has made great efforts to attract foreign tourists back and make visiting guests' lives more convenient. The results have begun to show.

In 2024, the number of inbound tourists reached 132 million, with total spending of 94.2 billion U.S. dollars, showing that China has once again become one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world.

Beijing received nearly 4 million inbound tourists in 2024, an increase of 186.8% compared to the previous year. The number of foreign tourists in other major cities such as Shanghai, Chengdu, and Shenzhen also showed strong growth.

A main reason for the recovery is China's new visa policy. Now, tourists from 47 countries can enter China under a unilateral visa exemption policy for tourism, business, or visiting relatives, with a maximum stay of 30 days.

Since June this year, this regulation also applies to several South American countries, including Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, and Uruguay.

Another important measure is transit visa exemption. Now, travelers from dozens of countries who are going to a third country or region and transiting through designated ports in China can stay in China without a visa for up to 10 days. This measure has attracted many travelers who use their layover time to visit scenic spots.

In addition to facilitating entry, China is actively improving the shopping and consumption experience for tourists. Since April this year, the starting point for departure tax refunds in China has been reduced from 500 RMB to 200 RMB, and the cash refund limit has been increased to 20,000 RMB, providing a more convenient tax refund experience for tourists during their travels.

Other measures aim to make tourism more convenient and modern. The government is building an integrated entry and exit service, increasing foreign currency exchange points, and improving the use of international credit cards in popular payment applications such as Alipay and WeChat Pay.

Through these measures, China hopes to show the world that traveling and consuming in China can be simple, comfortable, and safe. The idea is to transform tourism into a complete experience, allowing tourists to easily pay, communicate without barriers, and enjoy everything the country has to offer. (Translated by Han Chao)

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7559038677586805298/

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