The "Minnan Timewalk" attraction presents traditional Minnan culture in a way that is both modern and internationally appealing. [Photo/Huli district]
The World Tourism Cities Federation (WTCF) Beijing Fragrant Hills Tourism Summit 2026 took place on June 2. At this annual international tourism gathering, Xiamen, a founding member of the WTCF, discussed effective strategies for boosting inbound tourism with cities such as Athens, Buenos Aires, and Wellington.
Xiamen shared three key approaches it has taken to become a leading destination for inbound tourists: using the arts to enrich urban tourism, applying digital and smart technologies to make travel more convenient for international visitors, and providing better tourism experiences.
In recent years, Xiamen has been enriching its urban cultural appeal, offering a wider range of tourism products, improving service standards and processes, and enhancing the overall visitor experience.
The city has set up welcome centers for inbound tourists at the airport and is testing digital tools like fast-track customs and AI translation robots. These efforts impressed Christopher Cocker, CEO of the Pacific Tourism Organization. He said many Pacific island nations, attract visitors with ocean-related attractions like Xiamen, and Xiamen's approach offers a strong example in this regard. He hopes to arrange a tour to learn more.
To improve tourism quality, Xiamen created the "Minnan Timewalk" attraction, presenting traditional Minnan culture in a way that is both modern and internationally appealing. The city also offers multilingual travel tips on social media, and local travel agencies have raised service standards.
China has decided to extend visa-free entry for Russian citizens until Dec 31, 2027, a spokesman for the Foreign Ministry said on May 20.
The measures upgrade an earlier policy released in 2025 and are designed to make the process "more convenient, faster and easier" for foreign shoppers, according to an official notice.
