CCTV News: With the recent relaxation and optimization of the visa-free policy for transit in progress, the increase in the number of incoming tourists has driven a significant increase in foreign consumption. To this end, Shanghai has launched a series of measures to facilitate inbound travel. At present, 65,000 merchants and more than 90,000 terminals in the city support acceptance of wild card payments.
Zhou Jiaxuan, the head of a shopping mall, introduced that in terms of data, the proportion of consumption in foreign currencies increased by about 35%, mainly from Japan, South Korea and Thailand. Merchants have set up menus for independent development for foreigners. In terms of payment, all credit card payments are open, and foreign currency exchange is also available in the mall.
Statistics from the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism show that in 2024, Shanghai received more than 6 million inbound tourists. A reporter from a shopping mall in Lujiazui business district in Shanghai learned that since the second half of 2024, the number of foreign tourists has begun to increase, and the recent increase in passenger flow has become more obvious.
At the same time, due to the impact of China's visa-free policy to South Korea, the number of Korean tourists coming to Shanghai has increased significantly. In December 2024 alone, more than 130,000 Korean passengers entered and left the Shanghai Pudong Airport Port.
It is understood that in addition to food, sports products and trendy clothing have also attracted many overseas tourists. Since 2025, the mall’s departure tax refund amount has increased by 2 to 3 times compared with the same period in 2024.
