China will continue rolling out measures to further facilitate accommodation for foreigners traveling in China, according to a circular released on Thursday.

The circular, which was issued by the Ministry of Commerce, the Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the People's Bank of China, the National Immigration Administration and the State Administration of Foreign Exchange noted that local departments and online booking platforms should not restrict accommodation operators from receiving foreign guests based on qualification requirements.

Online booking platforms and accommodation operators are prohibited from illegally advertising that they do not accept foreign guests, the circular said.

It also called on operators to optimize their management of accommodation registration services for foreign travelers and to simplify their information collection procedures.

Payment services for foreign guests in the accommodation sector will also be facilitated to a greater extent, it said.

The commerce ministry and other relevant government departments have pledged efforts to guide localities in implementing these measures, aiming to provide a more foreigner-friendly accommodation environment and serve high-level opening-up and high-quality development more effectively.

近日，商务部、中央网信办、公安部、文化和旅游部、中国人民银行、国家移民管理局和国家外汇管理局等七部门联合印发的《关于服务高水平对外开放 便利境外人员住宿若干措施的通知》对外发布。通知围绕依法合规经营、提升接待能力、加强行业自律、发挥平台作用、优化登记管理、畅通服务渠道、提升支付便利度、营造友好氛围八个方面，推动进一步便利境外人员在国内住宿。

通知要求，地方相关部门、网络运营平台不应以资质要求等为门槛限制住宿业经营者接待境外人员住宿，网络运营平台、住宿业经营者不应违规对外发布不接待境外人员住宿的有关信息；支持住宿业经营者开展培训提升服务能力，强化行业自律，确保经营行为符合法律法规和消费者权益保护规范；压实网络运营平台责任，加强对入驻商家发布信息审核把关；进一步优化住宿业经营者对境外人员住宿登记的管理服务工作，简化信息采集项目，坚持教育管理先行，包容审慎执法；完善境外人员沟通服务渠道，持续推动提升住宿领域支付便利度，营造良好涉外服务环境。

下一步，商务部将会同相关部门指导地方抓好便利境外人员住宿相关措施的落实落地，为境外人员提供更加便利友好的住宿环境，更好服务高水平开放和高质量发展。

Original title: Foreign travelers to enjoy more friendly accommodation environment in China