Chinese hotels with three-star ratings and above have been told to accept foreign bank-card payments, as the government tries to make life easier for those visiting the country and giving its ailing economy a boost, reports Caixin. Major tourist attractions have also been instructed to accept overseas bank cards, as well as support payments in cash and increase foreign-exchange services, according to a statement from departments including the People’s Bank of China and Ministry of Culture and Tourism on Tuesday.
Travelers often face challenges buying things in China, as local payment systems have become ubiquitous. Even street vendors rarely accept cash any longer, opting instead for platforms such as WeChat Pay and Alipay.
China has been trying to attract tourists following the Covid pandemic, when it enforced some of the world’s harshest lockdowns. As part of that, the government has expanded a list of countries whose citizens can enter without a visa.