After the lockdown measures due to the pandemic were lifted, the number of foreign visitors to China did not see a resurgence. Despite the continuous unilateral opening of visa-free countries by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in recent times, “inconvenient hotel stays for overseas travelers” have become a new barrier. Several CCP departments recently issued a notice requiring local authorities to make accommodation for overseas personnel more convenient, sparking ridicule among netizens. The reasons why foreigners are reluctant to come to China have also raised concerns.
Throughout this year, the CCP has been encouraging foreigners to do business and travel in China, by introducing a series of unilateral visa-free entry policies. However, upon arrival in China, foreigners have encountered issues related to payments, accommodations, booking scenic spots, and more. Particularly concerning accommodation, due to qualifications required for hotels accepting foreign guests, some hotels refuse to accommodate foreign customers, leading to complaints from the latter.
On July 25th, the CCP’s Ministry of Commerce, the Cyberspace Administration of China, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and other seven departments jointly issued a notice requesting local relevant departments and online platforms not to use “qualification requirements” as a threshold to restrict accommodations for foreigners and other overseas personnel. Businesses are also prohibited from unlawfully announcing their refusal to accommodate overseas guests.
The regulations concerning “foreign-related hotels” originated from the CCP’s “Regulations for Rating Tourist (Foreign-Related) Hotels” which was promulgated in September 1988. It stipulates that all newly constructed hotels must obtain preliminary star ratings and a tourist (foreign-related) operation permit from the hotel star rating agency before engaging in foreign-related operations.
Since 2003, various regions have gradually lifted restrictions on approval for foreign accommodation in hotels. However, in practice, hotels accepting foreign guests still need to apply for relevant qualifications, submit registration information to the local public security bureau. According to the CCP’s “Immigration and Entry-Exit Administration Law” and the “Regulations on the Administration of Public Security in Hotels”, hotels accommodating foreigners in China must report registration information of foreign guests to the local public security department.
According to a report by Jiemian News, some hotels, considering costs or infrequent dealings with foreign guests, are reluctant to proactively apply for foreign business qualifications. This phenomenon is more pronounced in budget hotels and medium-sized cities. One of the main reasons why some hotels do not apply for foreign-related qualifications or refuse to accommodate foreign guests is the perceived hassle, complexity of registration procedures, and fear of taking on risks.
A hotel industry worker from Shenzhen revealed that when hotels host foreign guests, registration information is strictly required. Details like name, nationality, date of birth, passport type, visa type, validity period, date of entry, passport number, etc., must all be recorded in the hotel’s Public Security Bureau (PSB) system. Any registration errors can result in fines or even suspension of hotel operations.
Regarding the joint directive from the seven CCP departments to “improve” accommodations for foreign visitors, many Chinese netizens expressed mockery:
– “After decades of reform and opening up, this problem still hasn’t been solved?”
– “Unlawfully announcing non-accommodation? Is there even a situation where they adhere to the rules?”
– “They want it all, causing issues to show their power.”
– “Still addressing accommodation issues now.”
– “The purpose of running hotels is to make money, so if they are unwilling to accommodate customers, they must have their reasons. The seven departments should address the root cause.”
– “A mistake during registration could lead to a fine of 3000 RMB. Even as the boss, you wouldn’t want to accept that.”
– “Is the ‘wolf warrior’ stance not sustainable anymore?”
– “Don’t just talk about foreigners, even in Tibet, Hong Kong residents face troubles.”
Some netizens mentioned, “Foreigners refer to this place as an isolated island where they lose contact upon landing. On one hand, they are encouraged to travel and invest, but on the other hand, essential services are undermined. It would be beneficial to loosen up rules. In the past, Nanjing Road was filled with foreigners, and high-end properties never had trouble finding tenants.”
The CCP’s Great Firewall also poses a significant inconvenience to foreigners as hotels need to meet their special requirements for accessing the “outside network.” One netizen pointed out that the key issue is that foreign guests staying at hotels require access to foreign satellite television, which many guesthouses cannot provide.
Moreover, it is not the case that foreigners can stay wherever they please in all regions. For instance, in Ejin Banner, Inner Mongolia, due to the presence of the Dongfeng Aerospace City (Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center), it is stipulated that foreigners must stay in several hotels and guesthouses equipped with a system for uploading foreigner’s identity information.
Not only hotels but also staying with relatives or friends in China is under strict surveillance for foreign nationals. According to the CCP’s “Entry and Exit Administration Law,” if a foreigner resides or stays in places other than hotels, they must register with the local public security bureau within 24 hours after checking in, as stated by a local community worker in Qingdao, Shandong.
Recent reports from Voice of America highlighted that two knife attacks against foreigners occurred in China in June. On June 24th, a Chinese man attacked a school bus carrying Japanese children in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, resulting in the death of a Chinese woman and injuries to a Japanese mother and her child. Additionally, on June 10th, four Americans were assaulted and injured in a park in Jilin City, Jilin Province.
These incidents of foreign nationals being attacked have raised concerns about the escalating tension in Chinese society. The Japanese Embassy in China issued a warning to Japanese expatriates after the Suzhou attack, stating, “Recently, there have been knife attacks in crowded areas in China like parks, schools, and subways. Be cautious when going out.”
The reasons behind foreigners’ reluctance to visit China are often attributed to the stringent anti-pandemic measures implemented since 2020. However, this explanation does not entirely account for the current situation.
A survey conducted by the Pew Research Center in 2023 revealed that individuals in most Western countries hold negative views towards China, which may cause discomfort to foreign tourists in China.
The newly revised “Anti-Espionage Law” by the CCP, which came into effect on July 1st last year, widens the interpretation of violations against national security standards while granting the government additional powers to conduct searches, detain individuals, and impose travel bans, resulting in increased unease among foreigners.
The US government has cautioned its citizens due to the arbitrary law enforcement in mainland China, including laws related to travel bans and the risk of improper detention, advising prospective tourists to “reconsider traveling to China.”
Australia, on the other hand, advises travelers to China to exercise “extreme caution,” warning them of the risks of arbitrary detention and severe enforcement under broadly defined “National Security Law.”
The Taiwan Mainland Affairs Council has also issued numerous reminders to Taiwanese citizens to carefully evaluate their trips to mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau.
In June, after China lifted the “zero-COVID” policy and reopened its borders at the end of 2022, there hasn’t been a significant rebound in the number of international tourists visiting China.
According to data from the CCP’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism, during the five-day “May Day” holiday this year, the number of international inbound visitors continued to lag behind. BBC Chinese reported in May that the number of foreign visitors to China for tourism was only around 30% of the pre-pandemic levels in 2019. In 2019, nearly 98 million international tourists visited China, but by 2023, the number had dropped to 35 million, including business travelers and students.
Renowned workplace content creator “Luosir Career Talks” expressed concerns in an article on May 13th this year titled “What’s Scarier than a Real Estate Downturn? Foreigners Not Coming,” highlighting that China may be drifting further away from “internationalization.”
The reasons for foreigners’ reluctance to visit China are often perceived to be due to the lasting effects of the strict pandemic measures implemented since 2020. However, this explanation does not fully account for the current situation.
A survey by the Pew Research Center in 2023 showed that individuals in most Western countries hold negative views towards China, potentially causing discomfort for foreign tourists in China.
The newly revised “Anti-Espionage Law” by the CCP, which came into effect on July 1st last year, widens the interpretation of violations against national security standards while granting the government additional powers to conduct searches, detain individuals, and impose travel bans. This has heightened concerns among foreigners.
The US government has issued warnings to its citizens, citing arbitrary law enforcement in mainland China, travel ban-related laws, and the risk of improper detention, urging prospective tourists to “rethink their travel plans to China.”
Meanwhile, Australia advises travelers to China to exercise “extreme caution,” warning about the risk of arbitrary detention and strict enforcement under broadly defined National Security Law.
The Taiwan Mainland Affairs Council has repeatedly reminded Taiwanese citizens to carefully consider their trips to mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau.
In June, after China lifted the “zero-COVID” policy and reopened its borders at the end of 2022, there hasn’t been a significant rebound in the number of international tourists visiting China.
According to data from the CCP’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism, during the five-day “May Day” holiday this year, the number of international inbound visitors continued to lag behind. BBC Chinese reported in May that the number of foreign visitors to China for tourism was only around 30% of the pre-pandemic levels in 2019. In 2019, nearly 98 million international tourists visited China, but by 2023, the number had dropped to 35 million, including business travelers and students.
Renowned workplace content creator “Luosir Career Talks” expressed concerns in an article on May 13th this year titled “What’s Scarier than a Real Estate Downturn? Foreigners Not Coming,” highlighting that China may be drifting further away from “internationalization.”
The reasons for foreigners’ reluctance to visit China are often perceived to be due to the lasting effects of the strict pandemic measures implemented since 2020. However, this explanation does not fully account for the current situation.
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