“五一”跨境游火爆！入境消费同比翻番

Core Viewpoint - The article highlights the significant growth in cross-border travel and consumption during the recent "May Day" holiday, driven by favorable policies and increased payment convenience for both outbound Chinese tourists and inbound foreign visitors [1][3]. Group 1: Cross-Border Travel Data - During the "May Day" holiday, a total of 10.89 million people crossed borders, averaging 2.18 million daily, representing a 28.7% increase compared to last year [3]. - The number of inbound foreign visitors reached 1.115 million, marking a 43.1% increase year-on-year [3]. - Inbound tourists' spending via Alipay increased by 180% during the first three days of the holiday [3]. Group 2: Consumption Trends in Key Cities - In Shanghai, foreign visitors spent 455 million yuan from April 30 to May 4, a year-on-year increase of 211.6% [4]. - The implementation of the 240-hour visa-free transit policy and enhanced tax refund policies have facilitated foreign consumption in China [4]. - The total tax refund sales in Shanghai during the holiday increased by 1.2 times, with the refund amount also rising by 1.3 times [4]. Group 3: Outbound Chinese Tourists - During the "May Day" holiday, outbound Chinese tourists' transactions via WeChat Pay increased by 37% [4]. - Alipay reported a 15% year-on-year increase in transaction volume for outbound tourism during the holiday [4]. - The top destinations for Chinese tourists included Hong Kong, Japan, and Macau, with Malaysia seeing a 200% increase in app visits following the visa exemption agreement [5]. Group 4: Payment Methods and Innovations - The article notes the growing popularity of new payment methods, allowing both domestic and foreign tourists to use familiar payment options [7]. - Alipay's "tap to pay" feature gained traction among foreign visitors, with a nearly 50% increase in spending during the holiday [9]. - WeChat Pay has expanded its services to facilitate cross-border transactions, with significant growth in usage among Hong Kong residents visiting mainland China [8].