Despite continual harassment from Western governments, China remains a major destination for tourists far and wide. Records set in 2024 are expected to be broken this year as more countries are granted visa-free entry to the Middle Kingdom.

According to the National Immigration Administration (NIA), in 2024, the national immigration management agencies inspected a total of 610 million entries and exits, a year-on-year increase of 43.9 percent. Among them, there were 64.88 million foreigners, representing a year-on-year increase of 82.9 percent.

These startling figures augur well for China; the more foreign visitors to her shores, the better their understanding of the real China — not the one spouted by their governments. To quote one of the many sayings from the great sage Confucius, “Friends from afar bring distant lands closer.” Indeed, only through firsthand experience can one truly understand the story behind the country.

Our friends from distant lands spent an estimated $124.8 billion on hotels, sightseeing, dining, and shopping during their stays in China last year.

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Tourism means more than just visitors on sightseeing trips. For the economy, there is the multiplier effect, which means that for every dollar spent, its value is increased three times or more as it moves along the supply chain. For example, a hotel worker will give his wife a share of his wages to buy food, and the grocer will spend some of his receipts for a drink at the local pub, etc. So, everyone benefits from tourism even though they may not be directly involved.

The meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions tourism (MICE) market in China is expected to reach a projected revenue of $139.7 billion by 2030. Figures for 2024 are not yet available, but in 2023, MICE business in China generated $74.5 billion in revenue.

NIA spokeswoman Lyu Ning said that policies introduced over the past year to facilitate inbound travel have significantly increased foreign visitors. She referred to the visa-free entry policy being extended to 54 countries, including France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand. Nine countries were added to the list in November, and the number of ports and places of entry increased in December. More countries are expected to be included in the list this year.

Since Dec 17, 2024, the 72- or 144-hour visa-free transit periods for various groups have been prolonged to 240 hours. Those transit passengers have since been allowed to travel across the provincial borders in China. This means many more foreigners, including Americans, Canadians and Britons, can also travel without a visa to China with well-arranged itineraries.

The travel industry has warmly welcomed the influx of visitors to the Chinese mainland. The CYTA travel agency said earlier this month that it had witnessed rapid growth in its inbound travel business due to the extension of visa-free transit stays and the continued expansion of China’s visa-free entry policy. Trip.com Group, an online travel agency, said it has witnessed rapid growth in its inbound travel business because of the new policy.

The company said that the number of inbound travel orders Trip.com received for the Spring Festival holiday — from Jan 28 through Tuesday — increased 203 percent year-on-year.

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As one of the oldest civilizations in the world, China has much to offer tourists. It has 59 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, second only to Italy. These include the Great Wall (from the seventh century BC to 1644 AD), the Forbidden City (1406-20), the Temple of Heaven (1406-20), Xi’an, and the Terracotta Warriors (618-907), to name a few. The countryside is astonishing.

Top inbound destinations in China last year were the following:

Shanghai, which received 4.56 million foreign visitors in 2024. Its towering skyscrapers juxtaposed against traditional buildings and the vibrant lights of the Bund contrasting with the serene Yu Garden make Shanghai an irreplaceable destination;

Beijing, the capital of China, serves not only as the political and cultural hub but also as a renowned tourist city. Last year, it attracted 3.213 million foreign visitors, with the Forbidden City as the major attraction, up 85.1 percent from pre-COVID-19 levels;

Zhangjiajie, a UNESCO-designated World Natural Heritage site and the trailblazing national forest park, received 1.83 million foreign tourists last year, up 166.3 percent from the previous year. Its signature offerings feature soaring, precipitous peaks and profound, yawning canyons.

Xi’an is the starting point of the Silk Road. It is home to ancient historical sites such as the Terracotta Army and the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda. Its food culture has attracted numerous foreign tourists, for its distinctive snacks and popular restaurants along Muslim Street. According to the Xi’an Frontier Defense General Station, in 2024, Xi’an received more than 300,000 inbound tourists, a 14 percent year-on-year increase, far ahead of other inland cities.

The author is a former chief information officer of the Hong Kong government, a PR and media consultant, and veteran journalist.

The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.