China’s domestic tourism surged during the summer vacation of 2026, with 1.12 billion domestic trips generating over 1.55 trillion yuan in tourism revenue, marking a historic high and a significant year-on-year increase. During this period, China’s national railways transported 954 million passengers and civil aviation carried 151 million passengers, according to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of China.
Expanded Visa Policies and Travel Services
On August 20, 2026, China extended its 240-hour transit visa-free policy to include Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam, expanding the total number of countries covered to 57. Simultaneously, Hainan province began offering 30-day visa-free entry to ordinary passport holders from these two nations,
increasing the visa-free countries under Hainan’s policy to 61. Travel facilitation measures introduced in March 2026 by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism aim to enhance departure tax refund services, provide multilingual travel apps, and optimize visa processing procedures to improve the visitor experience.
Inbound Tourism Growth and Government Targets
China recorded 154 million inbound tourist arrivals in 2025, reflecting a 17.1% increase from 2024. Inbound tourism revenue surpassed 130 billion U.S. dollars, a nearly 40% rise compared to the previous year. The government targets attracting 190 million inbound tourists annually by 2030, with spending expected to exceed 150 billion U.S. dollars each year, as outlined
in China’s 2026-2030 tourism development plan.
Personnel Changes in Major Chinese Cultural Tourism Enterprises in August 2026
Several key appointments and resignations took place in August 2026 within Chinese cultural tourism companies. Three Gorges Tourism appointed Lu Jianguo as Chief Financial Officer following Chen Jingjing’s resignation. Longyan Cultural Tourism Huijin Group named Huang Jinhuo as Vice Chairman and General Manager. Nanyang Cultural Tourism and Sports Group removed Li Wei as Chairman. Zhangjiajie Tourism Group accepted the resignation of Qin Lin as director, electing Li Xin as a candidate. Sayram Lake Cultural Tourism Investment Group removed Chairman Su Mingde and Deputy General Manager Cao Xudong. Haichang Ocean Park Holdings saw the resignation
of its Chairman and CEO, with Chen Wancheng assuming the roles of Chairman and Chief Administrative Officer.
Global and Regional Tourism Context
Globally, summer 2026 tourism displayed varied trends. The U.S. expected 70.5 million international arrivals in 2026, a 3.2% increase over 2025, though August arrivals grew by only 1.8%. VisitBritain forecasted the UK to receive 44.2 million inbound tourists in 2026, generating 33.9 billion pounds in tourism spending. Popular events such as the Edinburgh Fringe Festival boosted UK arrivals, with China emerging as the fastest-growing source market in August 2026. Europe recorded more than 130 million arrivals in the first quarter of 2026, growing
4% year-on-year, aided by events like the total solar eclipse in Spain which increased tourism consumption by over 25% in affected provinces. Southeast Asian destinations such as Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Singapore continued to attract significant numbers of Chinese tourists. Vietnam’s August 2026 international arrivals hit 1.99 million, up 18.4% year-on-year, with China remaining the largest source market.
Officials Outline Plans to Enhance Tourism Experience
Vice Minister of Culture and Tourism Wang Jianhua emphasized China’s commitment to improving inbound tourism services by facilitating travel convenience, comfortable stays, and deeper cultural experiences. The ministry aims to combine traditional Chinese culture with contemporary life in travel programs and to
extend international cultural and tourism cooperation. The government’s 15th Five-Year Plan intends to support these goals through policies focusing on visa liberalization, service optimization, and infrastructure improvements.
