The Paradox of Welcoming Tourism

While China actively courts international visitors to revitalize its tourism sector, a concerning trend has emerged: some hotels are reportedly turning away foreign guests, creating frustration and anxiety among travelers. This comes despite central government directives aimed at ensuring equal treatment for all tourists, regardless of nationality.

Experiences of Rejection: A Growing Concern

Several tourists have taken to social media platforms like Reddit and Xiaohongshu (Rednote) to share their negative experiences. These accounts detail instances where hotels,despite advertising availability to foreign guests on booking platforms,denied accommodation upon arrival. travelers from Australia, the United States, Britain, Malaysia, Singapore, and Russia have posted warnings on sites like Booking.com,advising others to be cautious.

Alice Jiao, an Australian tourist, recounted her experience in Nanjing. After meticulously checking online reviews to ensure the hotel accepted foreign guests, she was turned away at the Nanjing Rest Yizhi Hotel. Staff informed her that they onyl accommodated foreigners with permanent Chinese resident cards.

Of course, it feels unlucky experiencing things like this.

Similarly, Emily Qin, a Malaysian tourist, described her experience in January 2025 as her first shocking order, highlighting the lack of clear facts regarding foreign guest policies on hotel listings.

Policy Versus practice: A Disconnect

The Chinese government has implemented several measures to attract foreign tourists, including relaxed visa rules. According to the Chinese Tourism Academy, these efforts have shown promise, with a 61% increase in inbound visits in 2024, totaling 131.9 million. However, these positive strides are undermined by the inconsistent request of regulations at the local level.

in May 2024, a joint notification from the Chinese Ministry of Public Security, the ministry of Trade, and the National Immigration Management explicitly stated that hotels should not reject foreign guests based on licensing issues. This directive aimed to eliminate discriminatory practices that persisted even after the post-pandemic tourism reforms.

The Rationale behind Rejections

According to a staff member at Nanjing Rest Yizhi Hotel,the policy of rejecting foreign passport holders stems from local police regulations. They claimed that smaller,budget hotels are restricted to accommodating guests with permanent resident cards,while larger hotels have the capacity to handle passport registrations.

Chinese law mandates that hotels register foreign guests and report their information to the local police. Foreigners staying outside of hotels must also register with the police within 24 hours, either independently or through their host.

Expert Insights and Potential Solutions

Sam Huang, a tourism researcher at Edith Cowan University, suggests that the central government’s policies are often interpreted as guidelines rather than strict mandates by local authorities. This discrepancy leads to inconsistencies in implementation.

Sam Huang, Tourism Researcher at Edith Cowan University
In practice, the policy of the central government is not always in line with the way local authority regulates hotels.

Smaller, autonomous hotels, traditionally catering to domestic tourists, may face challenges in accommodating international guests due to language barriers and outdated systems for registering foreign passports. To address these issues, experts recommend:

• Clearer communication of hotel policies regarding foreign guests on booking platforms.
• Enhanced training for hotel staff on handling international guest registrations.
• Standardized enforcement of central government policies at the local level.

Looking Ahead: Ensuring a Welcoming Environment

As China continues its efforts to attract international tourists, addressing these inconsistencies in hospitality practices is crucial. Ensuring a welcoming and inclusive environment for all visitors will not only enhance the country’s reputation as a global tourist destination but also contribute to the lasting growth of its tourism sector. The focus should be on bridging the gap between policy and practice, fostering a culture of inclusivity, and providing the necessary resources and training to hotels to effectively cater to the needs of international travelers.