Expanding Service Consumption: Nine Departments Issue Joint Policy Measures

On September 16, the Ministry of Commerce, together with eight other governmental bodies, published the Notice on Policy Measures to Expand Service Consumption, which introduces nineteen targeted actions across five thematic areas designed to stimulate spending on services.

The Notice advocates a comprehensive campaign to enhance service quality and broaden public benefits, with initiatives to strengthen the “Shopping in China” brand and launch a nationwide “Service Consumption Season.” It calls for establishing pilot cities that explore innovative service formats, business models, and consumption scenarios. To invigorate first-release offerings, the measures promote cross-sector collaborations between premium consumer assets and leading intellectual properties, aiming to craft integrated consumption environments spanning commerce, culture, tourism, sports, and wellness, and to cultivate flagship enterprises in emerging service categories.

Advancing high-level opening-up of the service sector is another priority. The Notice supports orderly liberalization in areas such as internet services and cultural industries, while expanding pilot programs in telecommunications, healthcare, and education. It also encourages the inclusion of additional service sub-sectors in the Catalogue for the Guidance of Foreign Investment Industries, thereby enabling differentiated foreign-capital participation and tailored service provision.

To enrich cultural and recreational offerings, the policy calls for regionally tailored extensions of operating hours at popular museums and scenic sites, streamlined reservation systems, and promotion of walk-in access where feasible. The document underscores the importance of attracting top-tier international sporting events and empowering local authorities to host mass-participation competitions, with a view to creating renowned boutique tournaments, professional leagues, and home-grown sports entertainment brands. Early childhood services are to expand through qualified kindergartens admitting two- to three-year-olds, the development of community-based and family childcare facilities, and employer-provided care supported by relevant regulations.

Finally, the Notice sets out a framework for optimizing student holiday schedules without altering the total number of vacation days or instructional hours. Regions with suitable conditions may adjust academic calendars by considering local climate, production cycles, and implementation of paid leave, and may pilot spring and autumn breaks for primary and secondary schools. Shortening traditional summer and winter vacations is intended to create additional opportunities for travel and service consumption.