Door flung open

Peng Han, chief analyst at Travel Daily, a Chinese tourism media company, said the visa-friendly policies showcase China's determination to open its doors wider to the world.

"If we look at the timeline, we can notice that China's visa-friendly policies have been extended for longer, and expanded to more countries. Step by step, China is fulfilling its opening-up commitment, forming a clear trend for tourism industry insiders at home and abroad to examine the market outlook. I personally believe that China's door will only open wider," he said.

Since last year, China has taken steps to implement trial visa-free policies for travelers from dozens of countries, including European nations such as France and Germany.

People from the approved countries and regions holding ordinary passports are allowed to stay on the Chinese mainland for up to 15 days for purposes of transit, tourism, business trips or family trips. China has also extended its 72- and 144-hour visa-free transit policy to 54 countries, including the United States, Canada and the UK.

Wang Xuan, senior lecturer in marketing and revenue management at the University of Surrey in Guildford, England, said she is pleased to see the targeted measures to facilitate foreign visitors' stay in China, including diversifying payment methods, streamlining hotel registrations, and enhancing multilingual services at tourist spots.

While these measures are a step in the right direction, challenges remain.

"I think China does have a hospitality culture, but the real issue is how we can better place ourselves in the shoes of the visitors," Wang said. "The next step is to better engage governments at all levels and service providers to address the hurdles."

Peng hopes that the policy support and its implementation stay on course. Many of the specifics should be left to the service providers to manage, he said, adding the market should be allowed to play its role.

"If there is a profit to be made, businesses will naturally step in to meet these needs, improving foreign tourists' experiences with language services, mobile communication, and payments," he said.

Peng is assessing the prospects of the Chinese inbound tourism market by tracking investment in the industry.

Well-known international hotel chains like the InterContinental, Marriott, and Hilton all have big plans to expand in China in 2024, he said.

"Businesses are all driven by profit. If the market does not have potential, they wouldn't be increasing their investments. So, it shows that the hotel groups are optimistic about the Chinese tourism market, including inbound tourism, as many foreign tourists prefer to stay at familiar hotel brands when they visit China," Peng said.

"Opportunities vary across different sectors," he added. "In the long run, it's no surprise that inbound tourism in China is on the rise."

Eager to return

The Dridges are preparing to return to China to immerse themselves more in the country.

"We just want to spend as much time as possible discovering China. Obviously, China is going to be a massive part of our channel over the next three years," they said.

The Sun Kissed Bucket List's Taz and Libby, who have visited China three times since last year and traveled to 10 cities, are also planning a fourth trip.

"The biggest lesson that travel has taught us is to make your own opinions and make your own views," the couple said in a video summing up their discoveries in China.

"Don't believe everything that you hear or read in the media because that could be someone's point of view. That view could be biased, and that view could be skewed.

"We are not saying anywhere is perfect. Everywhere has its imperfections and shortcomings, and we are not blind to that. What we are trying to say is that you should form your own understanding and have your own perceptions of things. Don't be so easily led," they added.

Bessenger is trying to focus less on her full-time work and more on travel.

"If I can just change people's minds a little bit, that could be a good thing," she said. "So, it is important for me to go outside more, and show them the true experiences I have when the camera is on."

When asked for one piece of advice she would give to someone paying close attention to the country she said, "Just come to China and see for yourself first."

Jiang Duo contributed to this story.