China is streamlining payment options for inbound tourists in an effort to attract more foreign visitors. This addresses a challenge for many travellers, as China’s widespread adoption of mobile payments has outpaced traditional cash and credit card infrastructure.
Sun Yeli, China’s Minister of Culture and Tourism, announced that the country would take measures to improve convenience for inbound tourists, beginning with payment inconveniences.
This is because China uses payment apps on mobile almost exclusively, and so tourists who want to pay using a credit/debit card or cash are often turned away.
The Ministry will also collaborate with popular, national mobile payment platforms to make registration for foreigners easier.
Yeli said that in popular tourist destinations like Shanghai, the government would redeploy traditional point-of-sale machines for card payments at restaurants, hotels and tourist attractions to discourage a reliance on mobile payment. The Minister also stressed that cash could not be rejected as a form of payment and must still be recognised as legal tender.
According to Yeli, the government has undergone a process of reviewing the entire experience of inbound visitors, from visa applications to hotel check-ins, and is committed to systematically addressing any issues identified. This is the first of these efforts.
“We sincerely welcome tourists from all over the world to visit China, explore the unique and enchanting cultural charm of ancient China, understand and discover the miracles created by the rapid and constant development of modern China, and experience the warm and friendly hospitality of the Chinese people as a nation known for its etiquette,” said Yeli.
