China has seen the number of foreign tourists decline for a third successive year; 25.9 million visitors arrived last year, down 1.4% on the previous year. A lack of tourism infrastructure could be a possible explanation for this trend. Visitors to the US and Europe are able to use credit cards and ATMs at tourist sites, whereas in China, there are very few places that accept foreign credit cards. China's hospitality industry also lags behind that of other nations. The Chinese government is trying to boost its domestic tourism, but it faces many challenges. In order to compete, China needs to improve its infrastructure and hospitality services, and focus on providing more personalised products and services.
China has seen the number of foreign tourists decline for a third successive year; 25.9 million visitors arrived last year, down 1.4% on the previous year. A lack of tourism infrastructure could be a possible explanation for this trend. Visitors to the US and Europe are able to use credit cards and ATMs at tourist sites, whereas in China, there are very few places that accept foreign credit cards. China's hospitality industry also lags behind that of other nations. America leads the world in terms of tourist revenue, because tourists there know they can expect first-class service in restaurants and hotels. In order to compete, China needs to improve its infrastructure and hospitality services, and focus on providing more personalised products and services.