240小时过境免签满周年 我国入境经济发展动力强劲

Group 1 - The core viewpoint of the news is the extension of the visa-free transit policy from 72 hours and 144 hours to 240 hours, which is expected to significantly boost inbound tourism and consumption in China [1] - Since the implementation of the new policy, a total of 40.6 million foreign visitors have entered the country, marking a year-on-year increase of 27.2%, with those utilizing the 240-hour visa-free transit seeing a 60.8% increase compared to before the policy optimization [1] - The new inbound tourism trends include diversification of source markets, individualized travel methods, niche destinations, and lifestyle-oriented experiences, with foreign tourists engaging in activities such as snow sports in Northeast China and shopping in the south [1] Group 2 - The facilitation of the inbound policy is complemented by a significant increase in the number of duty-free shops, which have tripled to over 10,000 by the end of August 2024, and a 22-fold increase in duty-free sales in the first three quarters [3] - The types of goods available for inbound shopping have shifted from traditional souvenirs to include intangible cultural heritage products and electronics, with major shopping districts offering "buy now, refund later" services [3] - The average length of stay for tourists has increased from 5.3 days to 7.8 days, leading to an 85% growth in spending on accommodation and dining [3]