The number of inbound tourists to Beijing reached 2.27 million from January to July this year, up 2.5 percent year on year. The impressive data underscores Beijing's efforts in recent years to explore new ways of inbound tourism partnership and open up its tourism market by a string of supportive policies.
In line with its leading role to serve international communication, Beijing has introduced an array of policies such as special funds for awarding inbound tourism, funds for MICE, shopping tax rebates on departure for overseas tourists, and 144-hour transit visa exemption, propelling inbound tourism growth. As Beijing is building a world-class harmonious and livable capital in an all-round way, inbound tourism is expected to play a bigger role in deepening reform and opening-up, enhancing international friendship and promoting cultural and economic exchanges.
What's more, Beijing will host the International Horticulture Exhibition in 2019, and the World Leisure Conference in 2020. The Winter Olympics and Winter Paralympic Games will also be held in Beijing in 2022. These international events will bring new opportunities for Beijing's inbound tourism development. Beijing is willing to strengthen cooperation and share opportunities with domestic and overseas partners.
In February, the Beijing Municipal Commission of Tourism Development (BMCTD) launched the "Global Distribution Partnership Program of Beijing Tourism", China's and even the Asia Pacific region's first strategic cooperation innovation mechanism initiated by the government and participated in by international travel agents. The project has received over 120 applications from international travel agents, while 30 of them are selected to be the partners inking a three-year-long cooperation with the BMCTD to carry out in-depth cooperation over information sharing, marketing, and tourism route development. By hosting the summit and promoting the project, the BMCTD hopes to explore a normalized inbound tourism cooperation mechanism, keep informed of the real-time changes in international tourism consumption orientation, understand the characteristics and preferences of overseas tourists, and invite global partners to participate in the study of feature inbound tourism routes and continue to enhance Beijing's appeal as a global tourism destination.
Based on changes in the inbound tourism market, groups and preferences, Beijing will introduce eight types of feature tourism products to the world, including ancient capital tours, modern capital tours, folklore tours, fashion tours, food tours and research and study tours, Chinese traditional medicine health tours as well as conference and sports tours.
Source: Beijing Municipal Commission of Tourism Development
