Published on: 2026-10-31
Source: People’s Republic of China — Translation
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Shanghai continues to demonstrate growth in inbound tourism indicators. Services for foreign guests are constantly being improved: multilingual navigation, multilingual ticket vending machines, payment for purchases and services with foreign bank cards, online tax refunds for foreign tourists. All this contributes to foreign tourists “not experiencing language difficulties upon arrival, being able to pay when purchasing goods, and receiving a tax refund upon departure.” Cultural-touristic consumption scenarios are becoming more diverse: tourists increasingly choose thematic streets, new tea drinks, handicraft products, and explore traditional Chinese medicine. More and more foreign travelers no longer limit themselves to the classic route “The Bund – Nanjing Road,” but visit the zoo, cruise ship pier, designer toy store in Yu Garden park, and other places, seeking more varied experiences.At the same time, Shanghai continues to improve conditions for foreign guests: it launches a multilingual information service, promotes tourist-friendly restaurants, and thereby demonstrates convenience and hospitality to guests.
From January to August of this year, Shanghai received a total of approximately 7.06 million foreign tourists, which is 27.84% more compared to the same period last year. Among them, about 6.66 million were overnight tourists, an increase of 30.3%. In the first half of the year, the number of transactions through the UnionPay system made by foreigners in Shanghai grew by 98.6% year-on-year, and the transaction volume increased by 72%. The growing popularity of inbound tours not only highlights the city’s attractiveness but also gives a new impetus to the development of the consumer market.
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