Recently, the Ministry of Commerce and six other departments jointly issued the “Notice on Measures to Facilitate Accommodation for Foreign Nationals to Support High-Level Opening-Up” (hereinafter referred to as the “Notice”). The “Notice” focuses on eight aspects: legal and compliant operations, improving reception capacity, strengthening industry self-discipline, leveraging platform roles, optimizing registration management, smoothing service channels, enhancing payment convenience, and creating a friendly atmosphere, to further facilitate accommodation for foreign nationals in China.
The “Notice” requires that local relevant departments and online platforms should not restrict accommodation operators from receiving foreign nationals based on qualification requirements. Online platforms and accommodation operators should not publish information that illegally restricts foreign nationals from staying. It supports accommodation operators in conducting training to enhance service capabilities and emphasizes industry self-discipline to ensure that operations comply with laws and regulations and protect consumer rights. Online platforms are also held accountable for the information published by merchants on their platforms, ensuring thorough review and oversight.
Furthermore, the “Notice” aims to optimize the registration management for foreign nationals staying in accommodation, simplify the information collection process, and adhere to an education-first approach in law enforcement. It also seeks to enhance communication channels for foreign nationals, improve payment convenience in the accommodation sector, and foster a friendly service environment.
Moving forward, the Ministry of Commerce, together with related departments, will guide local authorities in implementing measures to facilitate accommodation for foreign nationals, providing a more convenient and friendly accommodation environment, and better supporting high-level opening-up and high-quality development.
Notice on Measures to Facilitate Accommodation for Foreign Nationals to Support High-Level Opening-Up
To:Commerce, Cyberspace, Public Security, and Culture and Tourism authorities in all provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities directly under the central government, cities specifically designated in the state plan, and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps;Shanghai Headquarters of the People’s Bank of China, branches in all provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities directly under the central government, and cities specifically designated in the state plan;Branches of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange in all provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities directly under the central government, and cities specifically designated in the state plan:
To strengthen international exchange and cooperation and better provide accommodation services for foreign nationals visiting China for tourism, work, or living purposes, ensuring their legal rights are protected, and supporting high-level opening-up, the Ministry of Commerce and related departments have formulated several measures to facilitate accommodation for foreign nationals. The relevant matters are hereby notified as follows:
Legal and Compliant Operations
Local relevant departments and online platforms should not set qualification requirements as barriers to restrict accommodation operators from receiving foreign nationals. Online platforms and accommodation operators should not publish information that illegally restricts foreign nationals from staying. Provincial cyberspace, public security, commerce, and culture and tourism departments should work together to strengthen market regulation, inspect local accommodation operators and online platforms for violations, and promptly rectify any issues found.
Improving Reception Capacity
Support accommodation operators in conducting pre-job training for front desk staff to enhance their service capabilities. Encourage accommodation operators with the necessary conditions to upgrade their service standards and facilities, provide information services related to tourism, transportation, and shopping, offer international long-distance calling, post bilingual signs, and equip front desk staff with foreign language skills or AI translation devices.
Strengthening Industry Self-Discipline
Leverage the role of industry associations to enhance self-discipline within the industry. Ensure accommodation operators adhere to principles of equality, fairness, and integrity in their operations, complying with laws and regulations and protecting consumer rights. Encourage industry associations to conduct training on international business, develop relevant service standards, and conduct evaluations and assessments to guide operators in lawful and compliant operations.
Leveraging Platform Roles
Guide online platforms to optimize foreign language versions of their applications, enhancing the service experience for foreign nationals throughout the process of downloading, registering, and booking products or services. Hold online platforms accountable for the information published by merchants, ensuring thorough review and oversight. Utilize the scale effect of online platforms to offer online courses on hotel foreign languages and reception etiquette, and provide training on check-in and room booking in foreign languages to help accommodation operators better serve foreign nationals.
Optimizing Registration Management
Further optimize the management and service of accommodation registration for foreign nationals, simplify information collection items, expand registration and reporting methods, and strengthen training and guidance for accommodation operators on registration management. Adhere to the State Council’s guidelines on further standardizing and supervising the setting and implementation of fines, emphasizing education-first and prudent enforcement, and guiding the improvement of service capabilities for foreign guest reception.
Smoothing Service Channels
Enhance communication channels for foreign nationals, encourage regions with the necessary conditions to improve bilingual or multilingual signage at airports, train stations, and other locations, and provide inquiry services and pre-arrival guidance for foreign nationals. Fully utilize the 12367 immigration management service platform, promoting interconnectivity with the 12345 hotline to provide round-the-clock bilingual policy explanations, information inquiries, complaint handling, and suggestion services.
Enhancing Payment Convenience
Optimize the acceptance environment for foreign bank cards, support regions with the necessary conditions to accelerate the upgrade of software and hardware for accepting foreign bank cards in the accommodation sector, actively expand the acceptance of foreign bank cards and e-wallets, and increase the deployment rate of card acceptance terminals. Guide accommodation operators to openly commit to accepting cash, ensuring sufficient change to meet cash usage needs. Support hotels with a high number of foreign guests to set up foreign exchange facilities and increase the types of currencies that can be exchanged. Support online platforms closely related to the accommodation industry in optimizing the payment experience for foreign nationals when purchasing products and services online, and continuously improve mobile payment services.
Creating a Friendly Atmosphere
Local relevant departments should actively guide local accommodation operators to learn relevant policies and enhance service standards. Increase publicity efforts targeted at foreign nationals to make them aware of the available services and policies, creating a welcoming service environment. Utilize hotlines and consultation platforms to handle inquiries, demands, and complaints from foreign nationals properly, showcasing China’s open, inclusive, and friendly image.
Local relevant departments should further raise awareness, actively understand and address the practical difficulties foreign nationals encounter in accommodation, providing a more convenient and friendly accommodation environment, fully promoting international exchange and cooperation, and better supporting high-level opening-up and high-quality development.
