China to enhance tourism convenience to cater to inbound visitors

BEIJING, March 29 (Xinhua) -- China on Friday vowed to implement more measures to enhance tourism convenience for overseas visitors.

The country will eliminate obstacles and address challenges in the fields of culture and tourism, and create an "inclusive and diversified payment environment," said officials with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism at a press conference.

The payment process will be streamlined at tourist sites, cultural performance venues, and hotels, while additional tourism products and services will be introduced, said Shi Zeyi, an official in charge of international exchanges and cooperation at the ministry.

According to Wu Kefeng, a ministry official responsible for resource development, 5A and 4A-level tourist attractions, national tourist resorts, and national tourism and recreation blocks will be equipped with soft and hard infrastructures necessary for mobile payment, bank card transactions and cash payments.

Foreign currency exchange services will be offered at tourist resorts and national tourism and recreation blocks frequented by inbound tourists, as well as at bank outlets in the proximity of these areas, Wu said.

In terms of ticket availability, authorities will ensure that all tourism attractions have ticket counters to accommodate elderly people and inbound visitors who prefer offline purchases, Wu said.

Online ticket-booking services will also be enhanced, which may include the addition of an English-language interface and the acceptance of foreign passports, permanent resident ID cards of foreigners and mainland travel permits for Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan residents as valid identity documents at key tourism attractions, he added.

At scenic spots with consistent unfulfilled reservations, advance ticket booking will not be mandatory, and less personal information will be requested, according to the official.

Officials also emphasized China's commitment to promoting technological innovation in the culture and tourism sectors.

New-age digital technology will be employed to create an immersive and digital tourism space in the country, said Fu Hanxiao, an official in charge of sector growth at the ministry.

China will explore novel tourism avenues, such as immersive cultural and tourism experiences, ice and snow tourism, night sightseeing, and city-walk programs, according to the official.

"We will further improve the consumption environment and conditions and raise the level of convenience to ensure a smoother and more comfortable experience for foreign tourists visiting China," Fu said.