Golden week shows the power of China's holiday economy

During the National Day holiday, China's inbound tourism continues to gain momentum, with more and more overseas visitors coming to China to experience its cultural and tourism appeal, openness and dynamism. In the first half of this year, 22.914 million foreign nationals entered China, up by over 20% year on year. Among them, visa-free entries rose by 30.6% year on year.

According to a global survey conducted by CGTN, 92.8% of respondents said social media content about travel in China had increased their interest in learning more about the country and visiting it, while 87% said visiting China in person would help them gain a more comprehensive and authentic understanding of Chinese culture, society and development.

The boom in inbound tourism during the holiday is no coincidence. It reflects China's continued efforts to expand opening-up and facilitate travel between China and the rest of the world. In recent years, China has continued to improve its visa and entry policies. The 240-hour visa-free transit policy now covers 57 countries, while nationals of 61 countries are eligible for 30-day visa-free entry to Hainan. Unilateral and mutual visa-free policies have further opened China's doors to the world.

These measures have boosted people-to-people exchanges. In the first half of this year, 17.815 million foreign nationals entered China visa-free, accounting for 77.7% of all foreign arrivals.

The survey shows that 91.8% of respondents said China's visa and entry facilitation measures had increased their willingness to travel to China, while 89.5% believed China is embracing the world with openness and sharing the benefits of development. As foreign tourists experience China's high-speed rail, mobile payments and smart tourism services firsthand, "China Travel" has become a popular trend on social media worldwide, helping turn the holiday tourism boom into sustained momentum for China's economy.

What makes overseas tourists want to return to China is not only its historic and cultural landmarks, such as the Great Wall and the Forbidden City, but also the convenience and innovation of modern life. From seamless mobile payments and high-speed trains to convenient ride-hailing services, these everyday experiences are offering the world a fresh perspective on modern China.

Technology-focused trips to China are also gaining popularity, with some overseas tourists spending thousands of dollars on customized itineraries to visit smart new energy vehicle factories, experience autonomous driving and watch rocket launches. "Visiting China to see the future" is becoming a new trend.

The survey shows that 92.2% of respondents believe convenient services such as mobile payments, high-speed rail and ride-sharing are becoming an important part of the China travel experience. Meanwhile, 91.2% said China is providing space for new technologies and products from around the world to be put into practice through its diverse application scenarios and large consumer market, helping drive global industries toward greater scale and higher quality.

Inbound tourism offers an important window into a country's economy. Behind the crowds at ports of entry during the holiday are not only flows of information and money, but also a flow of confidence. Overseas tourists are showing through their travel choices not only their appreciation for China's landscapes and culture, but also their confidence in the country’s economic prospects.

The survey found that 89.8% of respondents praised China's sustained economic growth, while 80.6% believed the Chinese economy can maintain its long-term positive momentum, with both figures remaining high for four consecutive years. Meanwhile, 71.7% said they were willing to travel to, visit or study in China. The continued rise in inbound tourism is a strong indication, the survey suggests, of China's economic vitality and improving outlook.

As the saying goes, "The foundation of state-to-state relations lies in the bonds between peoples, and such bonds are built through mutual understanding." The steady stream of overseas tourists during the holiday is not only a reflection of China's economic resilience and vitality, but also a testament to the value of cultural exchange and mutual learning.

China will continue to open its doors wider to the world as people-to-people ties between China and other countries grow ever closer. As China pursues high-quality development and further opens its economy, its continued growth will create more opportunities for countries around the world and contribute to shared prosperity.

(Jiang Yiyi is the dean and professor of the School of Leisure Sports and Tourism at Beijing Sport University.)