<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2024-10-01/China-launches-pilot-to-enhance-payment-services-for-foreign-travelers-1xl2yp87Tag/img/dee376cab0b943de95d3876d6074d379/dee376cab0b943de95d3876d6074d379.png' alt='Foreign tourists visit the Forbidden City, Beijing, China, April 7, 2024. /CFP
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Chinese authorities announced on Monday new measures aimed at improving payment services for international travelers arriving in the country.
A circular issued by the State Administration for Market Regulation and the National Data Administration details a pilot program in eight cities designed to streamline the process for individual business entities to obtain mobile payment codes that accept foreign credit cards. This initiative will support mobile payment platforms in verifying the information of these businesses.
The cities participating in the pilot program are Suzhou, Hangzhou, Jinan, Wuhan, Changsha, Shenzhen, Chengdu and Xi’an.
The program is expected to affect over 11 million individual business entities, which represent about 9.3 percent of the total nationwide.
In the first nine months of this year, the Chinese mainland welcomed an estimated 95 million inbound tourists, a 55.4 percent increase compared with the previous year, partly due to the country’s expanded visa-free transit policy.
China is committed to enhancing payment accessibility for foreign visitors. In March, the State Council released guidelines aimed at optimizing bank card payment services, promoting cash use and facilitating mobile payments. Additionally, a circular issued in April mandated that major tourist attractions accept both domestic and foreign bank cards.
