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 unveiled a slew of measures to further optimize its departure tax fefund policy, allowing overseas travelers to apply for a refund if they spend at least 200 yuan at the same store on the same day and meet other relevant requirements.
China updated its tax refund policy for foreign tourists, shifting from a refund-upon-departure model to a refund-upon-purchase model, the State Taxation Administration (STA) said on April 8.
