Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, April 9 (Reporters Zhang Qianqian and Wu Yu) – In a move to improve payment services at key cultural and tourism places in China, the People’s Bank of China, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the State Administration of Foreign Exchange, and the State Administration of Cultural Heritage have jointly issued a notice. The aim is to enhance payment convenience for various groups, including the elderly and foreigners in the cultural and tourism field.
According to the notice, local culture and tourism departments, as well as cultural relics authorities, are required to work with local branches of the People’s Bank of China to strengthen coordination and linkage. Key cultural and tourism sites and merchants will be identified to formulate work plans aimed at consistently improving the bank card acceptance environment, cash usage environment, and mobile payment convenience. Additionally, efforts will be made to strengthen publicity and promotion, refine work measures, and enhance the level of payment facilitation in the cultural tourism field.
The notice specifies that certain establishments, such as three-star and above tourist hotels, national 5A and 4A tourist attractions, national and provincial tourist resorts, and national tourist and leisure streets, must achieve full coverage of domestic and overseas bank card acceptance. Manual ticketing windows must also be retained at key cultural and tourism venues to support cash payments and protect consumers’ payment options. Furthermore, the establishment of foreign currency exchange business outlets in venues with a large number of foreign visitors will be promoted to improve foreign currency exchange services.
Moving forward, the People’s Bank of China, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the State Administration of Foreign Exchange, and the State Administration of Cultural Heritage will collaborate closely with local governments to ensure the implementation of the measures outlined in the notice. The goal is to optimize payment services for the elderly and foreigners visiting China, improve the business environment, and promote high-level opening up to the outside world.
This initiative reflects ongoing efforts to enhance the overall experience of cultural and tourism activities in China, while also catering to the diverse payment needs of visitors.