China’s inbound tourism sees a strong return in 2024 and 2025. Foreign visitors are arriving in greater numbers. They also spend differently. They use international bank cards more often. They seek authentic cultural experiences. They move easily through everyday scenarios like metro rides and high-speed trains.
The World Tourism Alliance (WTA) released a new report. China received 132 million inbound tourists in 2024. This was a 60.8 percent increase from the previous year. Foreign nationals accounted for 26.94 million of these visitors. This figure excludes visitors from Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan. The trend continued strongly into 2025.
From Checklist Sightseeing to Cultural Immersion
The main reason for travel changed decisively. “Experiencing Chinese culture” is now the top reason to visit. It replaced the old checklist style of tourism. Travelers want deep experiences. They ask for calligraphy workshops, tea ceremonies, night markets, temple stays, and local food tours. China’s cultural heritage is now the main driver of the inbound tourism boom.
Card Acceptance Is Almost Everywhere
Payment convenience improved drastically, and this caused the behavioral shift. Bank-card acceptance at key tourism merchants reached 99 percent by September 2024. Tax refunds are faster too. The “immediate tax refund upon purchase” policy started in May 2024. It cut waiting times from days to minutes. This naturally boosted shopping.
The value of shopping transactions rose nearly 90 percent over the last year. A sharp rise in the number of foreign cards caused this. Higher spending per card was not the main cause. More travelers use their Visa or Mastercard. They do not carry large amounts of cash and don’t rely only on mobile apps.
Transportation Becomes the New Payment Battleground
Daily travel shows the most visible change. Foreign card usage for public transport rose fast since early 2025. Inbound travelers increased Tap-and-Go metro transactions by nearly 60 percent in the second quarter of 2025.About 60 percent of overseas tourists in Beijing use Visa cards for metro and bus services.
Guangzhou saw more than 100 percent growth in tap-to-pay transactions by foreign visitors.
Cities other than the main gateways are changing too. Chengdu, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Xi’an, and others added foreign-card Tap-and-Go to metro and bus lines. Global card networks offer cash back and rebates to encourage this.
Dennis Chang is the Executive Vice-President at Mastercard. He highlighted the company’s efforts. He noted that they upgraded the Pay Like a Local program. Tourists can pay via QR code through Alipay and WeChat Pay with overseas cards. The company expanded acceptance of foreign bank cards. They also allow Tap-and-Go rail transit with Mastercard. These steps improve consumption experiences for visitors.
Visa reported similar growth in the first half of 2025. Tap-to-pay and tap-to-ride services saw triple-digit increases in several cities.
Top Source Markets Show Who’s Spending Most
The leading source markets for spending between Q3 2024 and Q2 2025 were: Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, South Korea, Germany, United Kingdom, and United States. Malaysia, Australia, and Singapore each increased spending by more than 50 percent. This shows a strong recovery from Southeast Asia and the South Pacific.
A More Welcoming Payment Ecosystem
The numbers tell a clear story. China changed rapidly over 18 months. It was once a market dominated by cash and mobile QR codes. This frustrated foreign cardholders. Now it is one of the most card-friendly destinations in Asia. Merchants accept cards almost everywhere. Tax refunds are instant. Payments are smooth. Transit payments have fixed the main past problems for international visitors.
Cultural experiences now attract more people. Daily spending is as simple as tapping a card. China’s inbound tourism will likely grow by double digits for the rest of the decade. The message for global travelers is clear. Pack light and bring a card. Then explore the real China.,
It’s exciting to see how Chinese tourism is evolving with the new payment ecosystem! With the introduction of digital wallets and instant payment solutions, traveling abroad is becoming even more seamless for Chinese tourists. No more fumbling with foreign currencies or worrying about international bank fees—everything can be done at the touch of a button.
As travel becomes more globalized, this system paves the way for smoother and hassle-free vacations. Plus, it's a game-changer for destinations, offering tourists an easy way to spend without the usual hurdles.
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