China, Beijing have entered a new phase of tourism development following State Council approval of the Tourism Powerhouse Construction Fifteenth Five-Year Plan, a national strategy that establishes measurable targets for inbound tourism through 2030. The plan aims to welcome 190 million inbound tourist visits while generating more than US$150 billion in inbound tourism spending, supported by expanded visa-free policies, stronger international transport connectivity, enhanced visitor services, and the continued development of business and leisure tourism across the country.
State Council-Approved Plan Sets a Clear Tourism Roadmap
The newly released Tourism Powerhouse Construction Fifteenth Five-Year Plan marks the beginning of a formal five-year implementation programme designed to strengthen China’s position as one of the world’s leading tourism destinations. Approved by the State Council and issued by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the strategy outlines a comprehensive framework covering visitor accessibility, infrastructure, destination development, international promotion, and tourism services through 2030.
Rather than focusing solely on increasing visitor numbers, the plan also seeks to improve the overall travel experience by modernising services across multiple stages of the visitor journey.
Visa-Free Policies Become a Key Driver of Inbound Growth
One of the central pillars of the strategy is the continued expansion of visa-free travel and simplified entry procedures for eligible international visitors. Easier border access is expected to support tourism growth by reducing travel barriers while encouraging more leisure, business, and cultural exchanges.
Visa facilitation works alongside other measures including streamlined immigration procedures, multilingual visitor services, improved digital information, and easier payment systems that allow international travellers to navigate destinations more conveniently throughout China.
Together, these initiatives are designed to improve accessibility while supporting the country’s broader inbound tourism recovery.
Air, Rail, and Gateway Cities Strengthen International Connectivity
The plan also places significant emphasis on expanding international transport capacity. Increased international air services, stronger airport connectivity, and continued development of China’s extensive high-speed rail network are expected to improve access between major gateway cities and regional destinations.
Cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Xi’an, Hangzhou, and Hainan continue serving as important entry points for international visitors before connecting them to cultural attractions, business centres, natural landscapes, and heritage destinations across the country.
Enhanced connectivity allows travellers to combine multiple destinations within a single itinerary while supporting tourism growth beyond traditional gateway cities.
Visitor Services Receive Major Upgrades
The Tourism Powerhouse Plan extends beyond transportation by focusing on improving visitor convenience throughout the travel experience. Authorities plan to strengthen multilingual services, accommodation standards, digital payment accessibility, tax refund procedures, and shopping facilities that cater to international visitors.
Digital tourism continues playing an increasingly important role, with technology supporting online reservations, destination information, transportation planning, and visitor services. Easier payment options are particularly significant for international travellers, enabling smoother transactions across hotels, restaurants, attractions, retail outlets, and transport providers.
These service improvements are intended to create a more seamless experience from arrival through departure.
Business Events and Shopping Tourism Expand
Business travel forms another important component of the strategy. The plan supports continued expansion of meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions, reinforcing China’s position as a major destination for international events.
Alongside MICE tourism, authorities are also promoting shopping districts, tax-free retail opportunities, and overseas trade distribution networks that encourage greater visitor spending while supporting local businesses.
The combination of business events, leisure travel, retail experiences, and cultural tourism enables destinations to diversify visitor activity while extending average travel durations and increasing economic benefits across multiple sectors.
Tourism Growth Extends Across Multiple Destinations
Although Beijing remains the political and administrative centre of the strategy, tourism development extends nationwide. Shanghai continues strengthening its international business and cruise tourism profile, Xi’an remains one of China’s leading heritage destinations through the Terracotta Warriors and Silk Road history, Chengdu attracts visitors with cultural experiences and giant pandas, while Hangzhou combines natural scenery with technology-driven urban tourism.
The strategy also supports broader regional development by encouraging visitors to explore destinations beyond the country’s largest metropolitan centres through improved transport infrastructure and integrated tourism planning.
China Advances Its Long-Term Tourism Strategy
As implementation of the Tourism Powerhouse Construction Fifteenth Five-Year Plan begins, China is establishing a structured framework for inbound tourism growth through 2030. By targeting 190 million inbound tourist visits, generating more than US$150 billion in inbound tourism spending, expanding visa-free access, strengthening international air and rail connectivity, enhancing multilingual services, upgrading payment and tax refund systems, and supporting global MICE development, Beijing continues positioning the country for sustained tourism growth. The strategy reflects a coordinated national approach designed to improve accessibility, visitor experience, and destination competitiveness while supporting long-term expansion across China’s tourism economy.
