Chongqing — Chongqing has been identified as one of 24 key inbound tourism cities under China's new five-year tourism development plan, underscoring the municipality's growing role in the country's efforts to attract more international visitors and deepen people-to-people exchanges.
The plan, approved by the State Council and recently issued by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, sets a nationwide target of attracting 190 million inbound tourist visits annually by 2030, with inbound tourism spending exceeding $150 billion annually. It also calls for higher-quality tourism services, expanded visa-free entry, improved international connectivity and greater convenience for overseas travelers.
Among its key measures, the plan calls for developing 24 key inbound tourism cities as anchors of a nationwide inbound tourism network, with Chongqing included. The municipality is also among 32 tourism hub cities whose roles will be further strengthened under the plan.
The announcement comes as Chongqing continues to record strong growth in inbound tourism.
Hongya Cave is illuminated at night in Chongqing. (Photo/Chongqing Municipal Commission of Culture and Tourism Development)
According to the Chongqing Municipal Commission of Culture and Tourism Development, the municipality has recorded more than 4.5 million inbound tourist visits since 2024, with average annual growth of nearly 120 percent, ranking among China's fastest-growing inbound tourism destinations.
In 2025, Chongqing welcomed 2.1478 million inbound tourist visits, surpassing the 2 million mark for the first time and reaching about 3.7 times the 2023 level. During the first quarter of 2026, arrivals increased 60.3 percent year-on-year. Tourist arrivals from Southeast Asia maintained triple-digit growth, while those from Europe and North America increased by more than 50 percent.
The city's momentum has been supported by China's continued expansion of visa-free entry and transit policies, as well as ongoing improvements in travel services for overseas visitors.
The national plan calls for expanding the visa-free entry program and increasing international air and rail connections, while improving payment, transportation, communications and accommodation services, optimizing tax refund procedures, and enhancing multilingual services through better training for foreign-language tour guides and wider use of AI-powered translation devices.
The plan also supports the development of major regional tourism initiatives, including the Yangtze River International Golden Tourism Belt and the Bashu Cultural Tourism Corridor, creating new opportunities for Chongqing to attract international travelers through enhanced regional cooperation and diversified tourism offerings.
Yangtze River cruise tourism has also contributed to the municipality's growth in inbound tourism. According to the Chongqing Municipal Commission of Culture and Tourism Development, Yangtze River cruises received more than 100,000 inbound tourist visits in 2025, an increase of more than 150 percent from the previous year.
The commission said the municipality will continue to strengthen its international tourism brand, improve services for overseas travelers, and enrich tourism products. By enhancing the travel experience and expanding global promotion, Chongqing aims to attract more international visitors while contributing to China's high-standard opening up and international cultural exchanges.