Located in Shandong province, Qingdao is renowned for its picturesque beaches, rich history, and delectable seafood. [Photo/WeChat account: qd12301]

As of Nov 30, China has implemented a visa-free policy for Japan and nine other countries. In recent days, numerous travelers have arrived in Qingdao to enjoy the convenience of the initial batch of visa-free policies.

According to data from travel website Ctrip, the top 10 destinations for travelers this year has been from nine newly added visa-free countries are Qingdao, Xi'an, Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Dalian, Hangzhou, Chengdu, and Nanjing. Industry insiders predict that with South Korea and Japan successively included in the visa-free range, inbound tourism to Qingdao will experience further growth.

"In recent times, there has been a noticeable increase in foreign guests staying at hotels, with a significant growth in individual bookings apart from business guests," said a member of a Qingdao hotel. The hotel is committed to providing internationalized services while creating a diverse residential experience with Qingdao's cultural tourism characteristics.

Seizing the opportunities brought by the visa-free policy, hotels in Qingdao will leverage the city's cultural and tourism resources to plan and launch distinctive experiential products tailored to consumers from major overseas source markets, effectively boosting winter cultural tourism consumption.

In the first 11 months of this year, Qingdao airport has welcomed over 670,000 foreign travelers, nearly doubling compared to the previous year. As the preferred gateway for Japanese and South Korean travelers entering and exiting China, Japan's inclusion in the visa-free "circle of friends" makes Qingdao even more attractive, holding significant importance in solidifying Qingdao's position as a gateway hub for Japan and South Korea.