The AI Hangzhou platform is unveiled at the 7th Hangzhou International Day. [Photo/The 7th Hangzhou International Day]

Hangzhou, capital of Zhejiang province, has expanded digital services to make entry and travel more convenient for international visitors. The city unveiled its latest digital services at the opening of the 9th Hangzhou International Day on Sept 5 as one of the first cities participating in a national initiative to improve digital services for inbound travelers.

Between January and August, Hangzhou ports saw over 300,000 international arrivals, marking a more than 13 percent year-on-year increase. Visa-free arrivals also rose by over 22 percent, totaling over 160,000. Additionally, from January to July, the city recorded about 1.08 million inbound overnight visits, up 50.1 percent.

Since launching the "AI Hangzhou" service platform in 2024, the city has integrated resources from multiple government departments to offer a range of services, including one-stop airport assistance, multilingual travel guidance, easy hotel check-ins, payments, car rentals, and tax refunds.

These services have helped boost inbound tourism. Foreign exchange earnings from international tourism reached $1.1 billion in the first seven months, up 57.8 percent year-on-year, while tax refunds at the airport exceeded 111 million yuan ($16.53 million).

Hangzhou has also introduced temporary driving permits and car rental services for international visitors, online appointments for entry health checks, and electronic verification of medical records.

The city is further developing customized inbound tours featuring artificial intelligence and smart manufacturing to showcase its technology sector.