Shanghai authorities said the city's policy allowing citizens from 45 nations to stay up to 72 hours in the city without a visa has noticeably boosted tourism.

But business insiders said a lot more can be done to bring more transit passengers to the city amid an overall drop in inbound visitors this year.

According to figures provided by the border inspection departments at the city's Hongqiao and Pudong airports, the number of passengers benefiting from the policy has continued to rise since the beginning of this year, when tourists from countries including the United States, Japan, France and Australia were permitted a 72-hour visa-free stay if they hold third-country visas and plane tickets.