Visitors shop at Fuzhou's first downtown duty-free store. [Photo/Fujian Daily]

Fuzhou has been named among the Global Top 100 Tourist Destinations in the 2025 Trip.com Global Reputation Rankings for the first time, reflecting its growing international appeal. The ranking is released by Trip.com Group, one of the nation's leading comprehensive travel service providers.

Fuzhou has strengthened inbound tourism promotion by improving multilingual tour guiding services, expanding facilities for international visitors, and enhancing coordination among cultural, transportation, port and commercial departments. These efforts have helped optimize the entire inbound travel experience and present the city as a more welcoming and accessible destination for global travelers.

Fuzhou Changle International Airport, the main gateway for overseas visitors, has witnessed a rapid rise in inbound travel. In 2025, the airport handled more than 1.7 million inbound and outbound passengers, representing a year-on-year increase of over 17 percent. Travelers arriving under China's 240-hour transit visa-free policy have praised the smooth and efficient entry procedures. Immigration officers now provide multilingual assistance and travel guidance, while the newly launched airport express offers fast and convenient connections between the airport and the city center, ensuring a seamless journey from arrival to departure.

To further enhance the visitor experience, Fuzhou has introduced a range of supportive measures, including themed inbound tourism routes showcasing local culture, ecological landscapes, wellness tourism and coastal scenery. Tourist information services and bilingual guides are available at major transport hubs and cultural landmarks such as Sanfang Qixiang, Shangxiahang and Yantai Hill, helping international visitors explore the city with ease.

Convenience for international visitors has also been improved through the expansion of mobile SIM card sales points and portable Wi-Fi rental services at airports, ports of entry and major tourist attractions. More flexible communication service packages have enhanced connectivity and payment accessibility, supporting Fuzhou's broader goal of building itself into a modern international city and a world-renowned tourism destination.

A major highlight of 2025 was the opening of Fuzhou's first downtown duty-free store, which allows travelers to shop at leisure in the city and collect their purchases at the airport. With competitive pricing and instant tax refunds on selected items, the store has become a new driver of inbound tourism consumption.

Together, these initiatives are strengthening Fuzhou's global tourism profile and positioning the city as an increasingly attractive destination for international travelers.