Shanghai eyes first stop in inbound travel

Shanghai's strong attraction as a tourist destination will definitely benefit inbound tourism in China and the Yangtze River Delta region in particular, as it is one of the most vibrant cities in the country, said experts.

Multiple measures are in the cards to build the municipality — a strategic link between domestic and international economies — as a first stop for inbound travelers to the nation, they said.

There is a need to better promote the city's image among youth on social media platforms across the world and make mobility and payments easier for international travelers, the experts said.

Several countries, including Thailand and Singapore, have implemented mutual visa waiver programs with China over the past months.

Since Dec 1, China has also started allowing visitors from Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Malaysia to enter the country without a visa.

More than 210,000 visits from such countries were recorded within a month, up 28.5 percent compared with the previous month, according to the National Immigration Administration.

Shanghai will strengthen efforts to promote culture and tourism in the new year, including deepening its appeal as a beacon for international brands to launch new products, and taking actions to improve the energy level of business districts, said Gong Zheng, mayor of Shanghai.

Several other key projects are also planned this year to further boost culture and tourism in Shanghai, Gong said while delivering a work report of the Shanghai municipal government at the annual plenary sessions of the city's legislative and political advisory bodies late last month.

These include accelerating the construction of the Lego park, which is scheduled to open in 2025; expanding the Pujiang cruise route, fully resuming the operation of international cruises; and enriching landmark commercial zones such as Nanjing Road, Lujiazui and Xujiahui, Gong said.