​Secret code for Xi'an's booming inbound tourism

Xi'an has emerged as a popular inbound‑tourism destination for international visitors during the summer vacation.

As of July 24, the number of foreign nationals entering and exiting China via Xi'an Port has exceeded 300,000 this year, hitting a record high with a year‑on‑year increase of 15.9 percent. Foreign nationals account for 30.6 percent of all inbound‑outbound travelers.

A host of policies including mutual and unilateral visa‑free arrangements between China and many countries has been implemented at Xi'an Port. These policies keep lowering entry barriers for international tourists and create room for the in‑depth development of the cultural‑tourism market.

Xi'an boasts profound cultural heritage and abundant tourism resources. The city's cultural and tourism authorities keep enriching the supply of cultural‑tourism offerings, allowing tourists to "become Chinese" in a more immersive manner.

Xi'an continues to optimize its customs clearance facilitation measures. It has rolled out services such as one‑stop processing for temporary entry permits and the online submission of arrival cards for foreigners. The online submission coverage rate has reached 96 percent, greatly cutting down waiting time for passengers.

Efforts have also been made to improve service support for inbound tourists, including multilingual guidance, foreign‑card payment, and tax‑refund services, encouraging tourists to extend their stay.