Shanghai's tourism industry brought in 509.23 billion yuan (76 billion U.S. dollars) in 2018, up 13.54 percent year-on-year, according to the Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism.

In 2018, Shanghai received 340 million domestic tourists, who contributed a total revenue of 447 billion yuan. About 8.94 million overseas tourists visited Shanghai last year, up 2.37 year-on-year.

The administration said it will take a raft of measures to promote inbound tourism this year, including easing visa-free transit applications and exploring self-service clearance for outbound foreign tourists.

Shanghai will also provide more foreign-friendly services, such as improving usage of foreign languages on public signs and official websites and installing more POS machines with foreign currency services at popular tourist sites. 

(Cover: departure lounge in Shanghai Pudong International Airport. /VCG Photo)