Recently, the World Tourism Alliance (WTA), in partnership with Mastercard, Trip.com Group, and other institutions, released the 2024-2025 Cross-Border Tourism Consumption Trends Report (hereinafter referred to as the Report). The Report indicates that inbound tourism to China is significantly influenced by entry facilitation. In the first half of 2025, the total number of foreign nationals entering China reached approximately 19.16 million; notably, 13.64 million visa-free entries—a year-on-year increase of 53.9%—were recorded, accounting for 71.2% of China’s total. Currently, the WTA has 269 members from countries and regions around the world, with members spanning multiple sectors across the entire tourism ecosystem.

 

From July 2024 to June 2025, Chengdu’s total inbound tourist spending delivered a strong performance, placing the city among China’s top 5. Its ranking rose one spot from the previous year, putting it right behind Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen. It has recorded the fastest transaction growth among leading cities and secured the top position in shopping spend.

 

 

According to the Report, shopping accounts for approximately 40% of Chengdu’s inbound spending, the highest among the cities included in the ranking. As one of the top domestic tourist destinations, sports, pandas, and esports have become three growth engines behind Chengdu’s tourism surge.

 

The synergy of large-scale international sports events, city cultural IPs, and emerging industries further supports the rapid growth of Chengdu’s inbound spending.

 

 

In terms of sports events, for instance, The World Games 2025 Chengdu (TWG 2025 Chengdu) has significantly enhanced the city’s international visibility. During the event, Chengdu recorded 69,000 inbound visits, a 72.5% year-on-year increase, with notable growth in the number of tourists from European countries, such as Germany and Spain.

 

 

Data from Trip.com Group reveals that the number of inbound trips to Chengdu during TWG 2025 Chengdu rose by 31% year-on-year, and core commercial districts, such as Chunxi Road and Taikoo Li, as well as attractions including Night Cruise on Jinjiang River and Eastern Suburb Memory, were popular choices for international tourists.

 

 

In terms of air connectivity, Chengdu’s aviation ports have resumed, launched, and increased flight frequency on 99 international passenger and cargo air routes since the beginning of the year. To facilitate the entry of foreign nationals at ports, a new policy allowing online arrival card filling for foreigners was implemented at Chengdu’s aviation ports on December 20, 2025.

 

Travelers can now complete their entry declaration in advance via the official mobile app or other platforms, which greatly reduces the waiting time during entry inspection. At customs, the application of smart equipment and pre-checks for both hand-carried and checked luggage enable inbound travelers to complete entry checks in as little as five seconds. The resulting gains in entry efficiency free up more time and flexibility for consumption and travel itineraries.

 

 

In July this year, Chengdu became the first city in central and western China to enable the “tap-and-go” payment for metro and other public transport options with bank cards, including those issued by UnionPay, as well as cards issued overseas by Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and other institutions.

 

Over 2,400 POS terminals accepting foreign bank cards have been deployed across over 60,000 shops in Chengdu’s key commercial districts, over 90% of which now support payment with international bank cards. The infrastructure ensures that inbound tourists can enjoy “shopping upon arrival and instant payment upon purchase”.

 

 

While efficiently attracting large volumes of inbound visitors, Chengdu is translating “brief visits” into “sustained consumer interest” through the deep integration of culture, tourism, commerce, and sports. By introducing the “tax-free payment & tax refund” policy combination, Chengdu continues to unleash the purchasing power of inbound visitors.

 

 

According to data from Chengdu Municipal Commerce Bureau, for the first ten months of this year, the departure tax refunds processed in Chengdu increased by 253% year-on-year, the refund amount by 188%, and the sales of goods by 168%.

 

 

As of October 2025, Chengdu had introduced the departure tax refund service to 600 stores, including more than 170 offering the “Immediate Tax Refund upon Purchase” service. By shifting the tax refund process to shopping malls, Chengdu has further enhanced the shopping experience for international visitors.

 

Edited by Zhang Yuanlin

Source: Home in Chengdu