China and Singapore are in close communication to implement their mutual visa exemption agreement for holders of ordinary passports early next year, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Thursday. The two sides are discussing the details and plan to introduce relevant policies early in 2024.

It is a sign that China is committed to expanding its visa-free policy, which has further strengthened the connection between China and the world and facilitated the travel and business exchanges of people from various countries. Compared with the rapid recovery and sustained popularity of domestic and outbound tourism, the recovery of inbound tourism has been relatively slow. According to official data, the number of inbound tourists received by travel agencies nationwide in the first half of the year was 477,800, while the figure for the first half of 2019 was 8.56 million. Extending the visa-free policy will help promote the recovery of the inbound tourism market.

According to reports, the problems facing foreign tourists include difficulties in getting ticket reservations, the lack of foreign language-speaking tourist services, and the difficulties related to the ubiquity of app-based services and payments, which have all reduced the willingness of people to visit China.

The relevant departments and practitioners of tourism in China should provide more convenient and thoughtful services for overseas tourists. China is renowned for its rich tourism resources and welcoming Chinese hospitality. From a broader perspective, continuously enhancing the attractiveness of the country to overseas visitors is of great significance for improving China's socioeconomic level and developing its modern service industry.

Attracting overseas visitors would not only be a boost for the domestic tourism industry, but also promote cultural exchanges. Therefore, in addition to opening the door and welcoming inbound visitors with the visa-free policy, all sectors of society also need to work together to improve the quality of the invitation to overseas visitors so that tourists truly feel the warmth of Chinese hospitality.