Beijing upgrades inbound travel services as visitors surge in January-April

BEIJING -- Beijing unveiled a comprehensive action plan to upgrade its inbound tourism services on Tuesday at the Beijing Inbound Tourism Development Conference, as the city reported a 57.1 percent year-on-year surge in overseas visitors to 1.46 million from January to April.

The plan outlines 22 measures across four areas -- products, promotion, services and support -- aiming to enhance the city's appeal. Key product initiatives include boosting the "Beijing Central Axis" brand and diversifying offerings such as world heritage tours, hutong explorations and cycling experiences along the axis.

Service improvements focus on expanding and optimizing international flight networks, streamlining entry processes with dedicated zones for "temporary entry permits" for one-stop issuance, and enabling more foreign bank cards for tap-and-go subway access to elevate convenience.

"Beijing's inbound tourism is surging, marked by rising visitor numbers and higher spending," said Sima Hong, deputy mayor of Beijing, adding that the city is eager to collaborate with global partners to ignite the "Beijing Travel" wave, offering tourists more open, convenient and captivating experiences.

At the conference, 10 new themed routes were introduced under the "Beijing's New Discoveries" banner, including culinary quests, intangible heritage experiences and night cruises, to cater to diverse tourist preferences.

Preceding the event, more than 270 travel agents from more than 40 countries and regions participated in a 48-hour tour from June 1 to 2 to evaluate traditional and emerging attractions, like watching dragon boat racing at Yanqi Lake and visiting Pop Land, the first IP theme park of China's trendy toy maker Pop Mart.

Tourism is ultimately about sharing cultures, said Paul Cohen, founder of International Experiences Ltd., noting that exporting Beijing's culture to new streams of visitors and introducing local citizens to cultures from around the world is a win-win proposition.

The conference, co-hosted by the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism and the Bureau of International Exchange and Cooperation of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, featured policy announcements, trade talks, and exhibitions to foster global tourism partnerships.