Are ALL Hotels Accepting Foreign Guests? We Asked Dozens

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Are ALL Hotels Accepting Foreign Guests? We Asked Dozens

In response to the refusal of certain hotels to accommodate foreign guests under the pretext of lacking "qualifications to host foreigners" or "not knowing how to enter information into the system," China's Ministry of Public Security has mandated that the hospitality industry must not deny lodging to overseas guests on the basis of lacking foreign-related qualifications. 

This directive was published in the "Message Reply" section of the Chinese Government's website on Friday, May 24, citing complaints from foreign netizens from countries such as Nigeria, the UK, and Pakistan, particularly noting issues in smaller cities and budget hotels.

Following the feedback relayed through the government's website, authorities acknowledged the importance of this issue and are actively coordinating with other relevant departments to develop and implement measures that ensure foreign guests receive proper accommodation services. These efforts include guiding and supervising hotels to improve their capacity and service levels in hosting international guests.

To assess the real-world application of these policies, the AnyHelper team conducted a random survey (for reference only), focusing on budget and non-chain hotels, given that four-star and above hotels typically have the capability to host foreign guests. Here are the summarized findings, which overall indicate a positive trend in policy implementation:

1. Almost all responses on booking platforms stated, "Acceptable guests: Mainland, Hong Kong, Macau, and foreign visitors."

This uniformity suggests that the policy might be in effect, though it also raises questions about whether these responses are merely standardized replies from the platforms.

2. The AnyHelper team made further inquiries through phone calls and on-site visits. 

Beijing:

A budget hotel priced at approximately 120 RMB per night was aware of the new policy but mentioned that actual check-in might be "a bit troublesome" and would require approval from the owner.

Pic from AnyHelper

A higher-end hotel, classified as "luxury" and priced at 225 RMB per night, among several other hotels, confirmed that they could accommodate foreign guests with only a passport required at check-in. However, some do not accept Visa or MasterCard payments.

Pic from AnyHelper

Shanghai:

Several economy hotels, with rates ranging from 99 to 121 RMB per night, were contacted via phone. All confirmed that they could host foreign guests, requiring only a passport for check-in. However, most of these hotels do not accept Visa or MasterCard, and some do not accept credit cards at all.

3. Overall, the findings from the AnyHelper team's survey are encouraging, showing a significant compliance with the new regulations across various types of accommodations.

But it is still advisable for travelers to confirm directly with hotels in advance to avoid potential disruptions to their plans. Additionally, verifying accepted payment methods with the hotel can also prevent inconveniences.

If you have any questions about China visa applications(work visa, company registration and more), please contact our visa consultant Lisa, WeChat: AnyHelper_DD.

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