According to recent reports, the number of foreign visitors arriving in Shanghai has been steadily increasing this year. In response to the growing influx of international guests, the city has implemented a series of measures to enhance their experience upon entry and throughout their stay.
With the continued benefits of the 144-hour visa-free transit policy, Shanghai has seen significant growth in the number of foreign visitors. In the first nine months of this year, a total of 12.18 million travelers passed through the city’s ports, marking a 107% increase compared to the previous year. To further streamline international travel, Shanghai’s Hongqiao Airport Terminal 1 and both Terminals 1 and 2 at Pudong Airport have recently opened comprehensive service centers specifically for foreign travelers. These centers are conveniently located at the arrival exits of international flights and provide a range of services, including travel guides, transportation card sales, foreign currency exchange, and more.
In addition to offering a solid foundation of services for foreign visitors at these “first points of entry,” Shanghai is promoting various payment methods, including mobile payments, credit cards, and cash. Currently, there are 70,000 payment terminals across the city that accept international cards, covering eight major categories such as dining, accommodation, transportation, sightseeing, and shopping.
Mao Bin, a manager at a local shopping mall’s cashier department, commented, “We’re seeing an increasing number of foreign customers shopping with us, so we’ve made adjustments to our payment systems to better accommodate them. Now, all of our checkout devices can fully support card payments from international visitors.”
