When Australian tourist Alice Jiao booked a hotel in Nanjing, a bustling city in eastern China, she carefully checked the listing to ensure it welcomed foreign guests. Yet, upon arrival at the Nanjing Rest Yizhi Hotel in February, she was politely turned away. Staff told her the hotel only accepted foreigners with a Chinese permanent residence card, leaving her stranded and anxious after a long journey.
“It felt unlucky to encounter such an obstacle,” Ms. Jiao shared, reflecting on her experience. Despite Chinese authorities ordering hotels to accept all foreign tourists last year to boost inbound visits, some establishments continue to turn away international travelers.
Many tourists have taken to social media platforms like Reddit and Xiaohongshu, also known as RedNote, to share their frustrations and warn others about potential pitfalls. Reviews on booking sites like Booking.com from travelers from Australia, the United States, the UK, Malaysia, Singapore, and Russia recount similar stories of rejection, urging caution for those planning trips to China.
This ongoing issue emerges as Chinese officials work to revive the country’s tourism sector. Recent measures include easing visa restrictions for foreign visitors, including Australians. These efforts seem to be paying off; in 2024, inbound tourism surged to 131.9 million visits, marking a 61 percent increase from the previous year, according to the China Tourism Academy.
Despite the positive trends, isolated incidents like Ms. Jiao’s highlight that some barriers to international travel still persist, underscoring the need for continued efforts to ensure a seamless experience for foreign tourists in China.
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