Shanghai sees growing appeal among global travelers

Shanghai is reinforcing its appeal as a major destination for international travelers to China. Supported by relaxed visa policies and growing cruise activity, the city is attracting more inbound visitors, with strong potential emerging in high-quality tourism.

Inbound tourism gains momentum

Immigration data shows 1.17 million foreign entries into Shanghai since the beginning of the year, a year-on-year increase of 20 percent.

The Shanghai General Station of Immigration Inspection said 66.8 percent of these entries were made under visa-free policies or transit visa exemptions.

The surge peaked on March 13, when Shanghai ports handled more than 27,000 foreign visitors on a single day, setting a new record and underscoring the city's growing appeal to international travelers.

Cruise travel highlights city's appeal

Royal Caribbean's Spectrum of the Seas, departing from Shanghai, has become a strong draw for international travelers.

The March 21 voyage offered a clear example, with nearly 3,700 international tourists on board, accounting for 88 percent of all passengers.

Among them, Russian tourists accounted for over 30 percent, followed by travelers from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Singapore.

Immigration inspection data showed that nearly 80 percent of these passengers were able to arrive in Shanghai and board the ship under visa-free policies, while transit visa exemption policies also made their journeys to China more convenient.

The April 18 voyage is also expected to see a high share of international travelers, at 81 percent.

High-end tourism gains momentum

Shanghai's tourism market has remained active this March, supported by major events such as Luxe Asia 2026 and the upcoming Tourism Plus Shanghai 2026.

Adding to the momentum, two international cruise ships, Mein Schiff and MSC Magnifica, are set to dock at the Shanghai Wusongkou International Cruise Port on March 29, bringing an estimated 5,500 foreign visitors to the city.

The Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism reported that Shanghai received a record 9.36 million inbound tourists in 2025, a 39.58 percent increase from the previous year.

The growth is also creating new opportunities in the city's high-end hospitality market.

One example is the iconic Peace Hotel, a Shanghai landmark for more than a century, which is undergoing renovations to join the Raffles portfolio under Accor while retaining its Chinese name and historic identity.

Kent Zhu, CEO of Accor Greater China, expressed confidence in Shanghai's potential: "The nearly 40 percent increase in inbound tourism to Shanghai is just the beginning. We are optimistic about the potential of high-quality tourism in Shanghai and across China."

He added that Accor hotels in China saw more than 40 percent growth in inbound tourism business last year, with the largest share of visitors coming from the Asia-Pacific region, followed by Europe.