Critics in the West often overlook the policy's broader strategic benefits, particularly its role in regional branding and industrial advancement. As noted by Professor Chen Nan of China's Henan University, inbound tourism boosts both upstream and downstream industries, upgrades the market, enhances products and services and fosters innovation.

　　To be more specific, by simplifying the process for inbound tourists, the policy has invigorated interconnected sectors -- from hospitality and retail to logistics and cultural services -- driving innovation, improving service quality, and spurring demand for high-value, localized products.

　　These ripple effects, far from being limited to short-term tourism, are embedding long-term structural upgrades in China's consumption-driven economy.

　　An Indian passenger (L) asks about WeChat Pay, one of China's major mobile payment platforms, at Terminal 2 of Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, April 3, 2024. (Xinhua/Deng Hua)

　　In a sign of further financial opening, China has made mobile payments more accessible to foreigners. Travelers can now link Visa, Mastercard and other major credit cards to local platforms like Alipay and WeChat Pay.

　　Data from the People's Bank of China showed that this year's Chinese New Year holiday saw a significant rise in transactions made by foreign visitors on WeChat, which surged by 134 percent compared to last year's Spring Festival. Meanwhile, spending through Alipay during the first five days of the holiday increased by 150 percent.