Core Insights - The influx of foreign tourists to China has significantly increased this summer, driven by visa policy facilitation and social media promotion, leading to longer stays and broader travel areas [1][2] - The "immediate refund" service for departure tax has been successfully implemented nationwide, enhancing the shopping experience for foreign visitors [4] Group 1: Inbound Tourism Growth - The number of foreign visitors entering and exiting China reached 38.05 million in the first half of the year, a year-on-year increase of 30.2% [2] - Visa-free entry for foreigners accounted for 13.64 million visits, representing 71.2% of total inbound tourists, with a 53.9% increase compared to the previous year [2] - Tourists are increasingly exploring not only first-tier cities but also third and fourth-tier cities, with a growing interest in natural and wellness tourism [2] Group 2: Departure Tax and Shopping Experience - The nationwide rollout of the "immediate refund" departure tax service has improved efficiency by over 40%, with the number of tax refund stores exceeding 7,200 and a 186% increase in the number of people benefiting from tax refunds [4] - Foreign tourists are showing a strong preference for purchasing culturally significant products and electronics, with a notable increase in inquiries about departure tax refunds in shopping malls [4] Group 3: Challenges in Tourism Experience - There are ongoing challenges in improving the tourism experience, particularly regarding payment convenience, service accessibility, and price fairness [5] - Issues such as language barriers and the need for credit scores to access certain services have been highlighted as obstacles for foreign visitors [6] - The disparity in ticket prices between online and offline purchases has also been reported, indicating a need for better pricing transparency [6]