In a joint circular issued late on 3 April, the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) and eight other central agencies unveiled the most comprehensive policy package since China reopened its borders, aimed squarely at turning inbound tourism into a high-value service-export engine. The measures call for further streamlining of short-term visa procedures, wider acceptance of overseas bank cards and mobile wallets, and pilot zones where international visitors can reclaim value-added-tax rebates digitally in minutes. Authorities will also expand the 240-hour visa-free transit scheme—already credited with a 60 percent jump in visa-free arrivals—to additional seaports and high-speed-rail hubs before the summer travel peak.
![China Releases 9-Agency Package to Turbo-Charge Travel Service Exports]()
For travelers and companies that want to navigate these new entry pathways with minimal hassle, VisaHQ offers a convenient one-stop platform for securing Chinese visas and monitoring regulatory changes as they happen. Its online tools and expert support cover everything from standard tourist applications to specialized documentation for trade shows and corporate roadshows, saving applicants time and confusion; visit https://www.visahq.com/china/ to learn more.
Beyond visas, the package puts hard targets on payment acceptance and English-language signage in transport nodes, scenic spots and convention centres. Provinces hosting major trade fairs—Guangdong, Shanghai and Hainan among them—must be able to open foreign-card payment channels within 24 hours of a complaint. Hotels above three-star level will be required to offer at least two international e-wallet options by year-end. For businesses, the most eye-catching clause is a pledge to trial “one-stop event visas” that bundle entry permission, equipment carnets and on-site tax-refund eligibility for large exhibitions. Consulting firms say this could cut paperwork for corporate roadshows by half and make China more competitive against Singapore and Dubai for MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) traffic. Analysts note that travel services already account for over a quarter of China’s total trade in services, and the new blueprint aligns with Beijing’s push to shift from goods-export reliance toward higher-margin service exports. Multinationals with China-bound assignees should prepare for faster visa issuance but also higher service standards expected by incoming clients and staff.
For travelers and companies that want to navigate these new entry pathways with minimal hassle, VisaHQ offers a convenient one-stop platform for securing Chinese visas and monitoring regulatory changes as they happen. Its online tools and expert support cover everything from standard tourist applications to specialized documentation for trade shows and corporate roadshows, saving applicants time and confusion; visit https://www.visahq.com/china/ to learn more.
Beyond visas, the package puts hard targets on payment acceptance and English-language signage in transport nodes, scenic spots and convention centres. Provinces hosting major trade fairs—Guangdong, Shanghai and Hainan among them—must be able to open foreign-card payment channels within 24 hours of a complaint. Hotels above three-star level will be required to offer at least two international e-wallet options by year-end. For businesses, the most eye-catching clause is a pledge to trial “one-stop event visas” that bundle entry permission, equipment carnets and on-site tax-refund eligibility for large exhibitions. Consulting firms say this could cut paperwork for corporate roadshows by half and make China more competitive against Singapore and Dubai for MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) traffic. Analysts note that travel services already account for over a quarter of China’s total trade in services, and the new blueprint aligns with Beijing’s push to shift from goods-export reliance toward higher-margin service exports. Multinationals with China-bound assignees should prepare for faster visa issuance but also higher service standards expected by incoming clients and staff.
