Monday, June 16, 2025

, in strategic partnership with its Premier Partner , is set to conduct a specialized capacity-building workshop this week in aimed at empowering small and medium-sized enterprises () within the travel and tourism sector. This initiative focuses on equipping local businesses with hands-on tools and knowledge to boost their digital presence, streamline international payment systems, and deliver a more seamless experience for inbound tourists.

This workshop marks a milestone as the first installment of PATA’s SME-focused training program to take place in China. It reflects the organization’s continued partnership with Visa to support tourism enterprises across the Asia-Pacific region. Since 2023, PATA and Visa have successfully delivered similar training sessions in countries such as Cambodia, Vietnam, Indonesia, and the Philippines. Each session has offered practical education on digital transformation and financial preparedness tailored to local needs. The Beijing edition will build on these learnings, adjusting its approach to address the unique dynamics and opportunities of China’s tourism ecosystem.

Despite China’s leadership in mobile payments and digital infrastructure, many inbound travelers face hurdles when attempting to use foreign-issued cards. Recognizing this challenge, the workshop will introduce secure, user-friendly, and inclusive payment solutions designed to ease transactions for international visitors. By addressing these critical payment bottlenecks, the training aims to enhance customer satisfaction while increasing revenue opportunities for local businesses.

In addition to payment innovation, the program will spotlight up-to-date inbound tourism statistics, spending patterns, and traveler behavior insights. This data-driven approach will enable SMEs to tailor their offerings more effectively and tap into evolving consumer trends. Attendees will also receive expert guidance on digital marketing strategies to elevate their brand visibility and competitiveness in both the domestic and global travel markets.

By bringing its capacity-building platform to China for the first time, PATA underscores its commitment to fostering inclusive growth and sustainability within the region’s tourism industry. With Visa’s expertise in digital commerce and global payments, the partnership seeks to bridge knowledge gaps, foster innovation, and strengthen SME capabilities to meet international standards.

This Beijing workshop stands as part of a broader regional effort to future-proof tourism enterprises by enhancing their digital infrastructure and financial resilience. It also supports China’s ambitions to create a more open, accessible, and traveler-friendly environment as it continues to welcome global visitors.

“The Association has always strived to support the recovery and long-term resilience of tourism SMEs. With Visa, who has been our partner on this journey from the start, we are delighted to bring this training to China for the very first time,” “Through the in-depth training sessions we have put together for this occasion, local businesses will be empowered with the tools required to enhance the digital transformation of their operations and become well-positioned to attract international travellers.”

With backing from Visa, the training program is being delivered through a collaborative effort with a range of local and regional stakeholders. Key partners include the China Tourism Association, the China Tourism Academy, the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism, the World Tourism Cities Federation Committee of Tourism-Related Business, the Beijing Culture and Tourism Association, and Dragon Trail International. Their combined expertise and support play a vital role in making this initiative a reality.

“We are honored to partner with PATA to host this training. This is another initiative following the launch of the Visa-CUP Zone for Beijing Central Axis in March this year, which enables Beijing as ‘China’s Top Destination for Inbound Tourism’. This is also part of Visa’s 20-city tourism SMBs empowerment campaign. To help SMBs seize the business opportunities brought by the booming inbound tourism, Visa actively introduces innovative and low-cost payment solutions that align with the payment habits of foreign tourists, such as scan-to-pay and tap-to-pay, helping small businesses improve operational efficiency and reduce costs.”

The workshop will bring together a diverse group of participants from various segments of the tourism industry, including hotel operators, travel agencies, tour service providers, dining establishments, and tourist attractions.