As the demand for inbound travel to China continues to rise, various localities across the country are unveiling strategic initiatives aimed at capitalizing on this trend.

Chinese regions are implementing targeted measures designed to enhance the tourism sector, which is seen as a significant driver of economic development.

In a concerted effort, Dalian in Northeast China's Liaoning Province announced ten new measures to revive its tourism industry on Saturday.

The city aims for a 50 percent increase in inbound tourist numbers, capitalizing on policies related to tourism products and services.

A notable highlight of Dalian’s strategy is the promotion of the 240-hour visa-free transit policy, which facilitates smoother entry for international visitors.

Among the measures introduced is a pilot program for immediate tax refunds for departing tourists and the establishment of emergency medical green channels to expedite urgent care for international arrivals, as reported by regional authorities.

Data from Dalian’s airport indicates significant growth in foreign visitor entries, with 34,000 foreign nationals recorded from January 1 to Saturday, marking a 49 percent increase year-on-year.

Of this number, 21,000 arrived under visa-free policies, which constituted approximately 63.6 percent of total foreign arrivals.

Similarly, East China's Zhejiang Province revealed a comprehensive plan in March to boost its inbound tourism.

The province aims to double the number of international visitor arrivals by 2030. This initiative includes organizing 50 major promotional events throughout the province in 2025 and enhancing technological integration in tourism services.

The plan outlines the development of a specialized app providing smart guided tours, personalized itineraries, and improved customer service for inbound tourists.

Additional improvements will focus on optimizing payment methods for international travelers, broadening the scope of visa-free policies, augmenting translation services, and providing culturally rich tourism experiences reflective of traditional Chinese heritage, as stated by Jiang Yiyi, a vice dean at the School of Leisure Sports and Tourism at Beijing Sport University.

In South China, Hainan Province reported welcoming over 500,000 inbound passengers through its three major airports from the start of the year until Friday, which translates to a year-on-year increase of 29.44 percent.

In an effort to enhance its global appeal, the province has recently announced plans to recruit foreign international ambassadors globally, offering incentives such as complimentary in-person activities in Hainan.

The province is also set to establish 29 tourism promotion offices across 18 countries and regions to facilitate ongoing market development.

Tourism experts, including Song Ding from the China Development Institute, emphasize the importance of tourism as a cross-sector economic driver.

With the integration of various industries, tourism presents a compelling opportunity for localities to stimulate consumption.

The combination of visa-free initiatives and local government stimulus plans is anticipated to significantly enhance local consumption dynamics.

While inbound tourism numbers remain lower than domestic tourism, foreign visitors tend to exhibit higher personal spending and unique consumption behaviors, which can positively influence both local economies and the region’s international image, as highlighted by researchers.

In alignment with these local efforts, China's Ministry of Commerce and National Development and Reform Commission released a 2025 Action Plan in February.

This plan aims to stabilize and attract foreign investments by accelerating negotiations on mutual visa exemption agreements and enhancing existing visa-free entry measures to promote international movement across its borders.