The launch ceremony of the visa-free transit joint tourism cooperation. [Photo/Wechat account: visitxm]
The "Sea Breezes Garden Island Endless Spring" Xiamen Culture and Tourism Promotion 2025 kicked off on May 15.
At the promotion, Xiamen jointly initiated the "240-hour Visa-free Transit Joint Tourism Cooperation for Foreign Nationals" with eight major tourist cities: Guiyang, Guilin, Shenyang, Shenzhen, Taiyuan, Suining, Nanping, and Xiangxi prefecture.
Xiamen is the only city in Fujian province to boast two designated ports for the 240-hour visa-free transit policy: Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport and Xiamen Port (passenger terminal).
Since the implementation of the fully relaxed and optimized 240-hour visa-free transit policy late last year, international visitors can now enjoy up to 10 days of visa-free travel in Xiamen. The policy has opened new opportunities for foreign tourists to experience Xiamen in depth.
Xiamen has seen a continuous rise in international tourist arrivals, benefiting from both the expanded visa-free policy and the city's persistent efforts to market itself overseas. Xiamen's inbound tourism market is continuing to gain momentum and is poised for exponential growth.
The initiation of this collaboration will create more development opportunities for the cultural tourism industry through joint efforts across sectors including dining, accommodation, transportation, and retail.
Simultaneously, it aims to attract more international visitors to experience Xiamen and discover China. By leveraging global digital platforms to showcase Xiamen's natural landscapes and cultural heritage, the initiative will further enhance Xiamen's competitiveness in the global tourism market.
China has launched a new pilot program to allow eligible enterprises greater access to overseas financing in support of green and low-carbon transformation projects, the country's foreign exchange regulator said on Aug 21.
To further streamline the experience, China is expanding tax refund stores, broadening the range of refundable goods, and refining refund procedures, ensuring an efficient and seamless shopping experience for global visitors.
