The Shanghai municipal government has unveiled a series of initiatives to enrich the tourist experience and promote consumer spending during the upcoming Shanghai Shopping Festival and "Shanghai Summer" international consumption season.
The Shanghai Shopping Festival, scheduled to begin in late April and continue through June, will highlight the city's economic strengths in debut products, branded goods, night economy and livestreaming commerce. It will also highlight diverse consumption areas such as new consumer goods, services, automobiles and eco-friendly products, with more than 1,000 unique events planned.
Following the shopping festival, Shanghai will launch the "Shanghai Summer" consumption season from the first weekend of July to the second weekend of October, encompassing the summer holidays, the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holidays, providing an extended opportunity for consumer activities.
Zhu Min, director of the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce, said the city is implementing a series of support measures to attract both domestic and international visitors. These measures include the optimization of services such as foreign card payments, luggage storage and a seven-day, no-reason return policy. In addition, a streamlined approval process for similar events will be introduced to foster an international and business-friendly environment.
The "Shanghai Summer" event will feature special tourist packages, lucky draws and exclusive travel products in partnership with tourism platforms. Promotional discounts from hotels and concentrated sales at tax rebate shops are also part of the plan to enhance the shopping experience.
China Eastern Airlines is expanding its network and flight frequency in response to China's expanded visa-free policy. New routes to Istanbul, Turkiye, and Cairo, Egypt have been added, and a direct flight to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, will launch on April 27. New routes to key European cities are also being planned. To facilitate travel in Shanghai, China Eastern has set up an air-rail intermodal transfer service center at Shanghai Hongqiao Station, providing convenient check-in and baggage services for travelers.
Travel portal Trip.com Group will launch a "Free Half-Day Tour of Shanghai" for international arrivals, complete with themed routes and professional guides. UnionPay is improving payment convenience in various areas, and the Bank of China is working with merchants to offer consumers discounts and shopping benefits.
These efforts are said to underscore Shanghai's commitment to creating a welcoming, convenient and high-quality consumer environment, further establishing the city as a top destination for international and domestic tourists.
