Have you ever been denied check-in at a hotel in China simply because you are a foreigner? Some hotels claim “according to laws and regulations” they cannot accept foreigners, and a few even display notices such as “No Foreign Guests.”
This practice is neither reasonable nor legal. In fact, no Chinese law allows hotels to arbitrarily reject foreign guests. On the contrary, in July 2024, China’s Ministry of Commerce introduced new rules requiring hotels and local authorities to treat foreign guests fairly and operate in compliance with the law.
Key points of the new policy:
Hotels and booking platforms must not publish “no foreign guests” restrictions.
Hotels should train staff, improve foreign language service skills, and provide translation tools.
Platforms should improve foreign-language versions of apps and offer online training for hotel operators.
Accommodation registration for foreigners should be simplified, with more guidance and easier reporting channels.
Airports and train stations should enhance multilingual signage and inquiry services.
Payment systems should expand acceptance of international bank cards and e-wallets.
These measures ensure that foreigners are not unfairly excluded from hotels and can enjoy equal service.
If you are still refused check-in, you can call 12345 to file a complaint with local authorities, or dial 12367 (a 24/7 bilingual hotline) for immigration service support, consultation, and reporting.
