News 1+1丨Why did inbound tourism by foreigners surge in the first half of the year?

The visa-free "circle of friends" continues to expand, and the number of foreigners entering the country continues to increase. According to statistics from the National Immigration Administration, 14.635 million foreigners entered the country in the first half of the year, an increase of 152.7% year-on-year. Among them, 8.542 million people entered the country through visa-free entry, accounting for 52%, an increase of 190.1% year-on-year. Why did such a change happen? What is the experience of foreign tourists traveling in China? Why do we need to develop inbound tourism with high quality?

When "China Travel" becomes an international buzzword, how do you view the surge in foreign arrivals in the first half of the year? The number of foreigners entering the country increased significantly in the first half of the year, with 14.635 million foreigners arriving at various ports across the country, a year-on-year increase of 152.7%. Among them, 8.542 million people entered through visa-free entry, accounting for 52%, a year-on-year increase of 190.1%. What do you think of this data? What do you think of the popularity of “China Travel” on short video platforms at home and abroad?

Dai Bin, President of China Tourism Academy: Judging from the data in the first half of this year, it should be said that the momentum of recovery is very good. This depends on many factors, including the fact that many foreign bloggers travel in China and tell the world a modern and real image of China through short videos. Some foreigners still have cognitive stereotypes about China, and even feel that we seem to be still in an agricultural society, just like China thousands of years ago. In fact, today's China, whether in terms of economic and social development level or people's lives, has exceeded the cognition of many foreigners about China, so seeing is believing. After foreign tourists come, their impression of China has changed, which is also very beneficial for telling the Chinese story well to foreigners locally. Therefore, the data changes in the first half of the year should be said to be very encouraging.

In our efforts to recover to 2019 levels, what other constraints need to be removed?

The Inbound Tourism Development Report released by the China Tourism Academy mentioned that in the first quarter of this year, the number of inbound tourists received by the four first-tier cities of Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen has exceeded that of each quarter in 2023, recovering to 67.2%, 64.0%, 53.2% and 83.0% of the same period in 2019 respectively. In order to reach the level of 2019, what other factors are restricting us, and how can we better overcome them?

Dai Bin, President of China Tourism Academy: First of all, in terms of foreign arrivals, Guangdong still ranks first by province, followed by Beijing, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, and some provinces and cities like Hebei have also seen an increase in the number of foreign arrivals. But at the same time, we should also pay attention to the difficulties or challenges that need to be overcome. From the perspective of the international situation: for example, exchange rate changes, the value of the RMB makes it very convenient for us to go abroad, and we can enjoy better services for the same money. But on the other hand, when foreigners come to China, the same money may not be so valuable, and they may not be so happy to spend it, so this is a problem, and we must pay close attention to changes in the international economy. If foreigners feel that the money in their pockets is not so bulging, it may affect their entry.

Domestic tourism "crowding out" effect: In the past two years, the supply chain of the tourism market has gradually recovered. Domestic tourism has played a very important supporting role for scenic spots, resorts, hotels, homestays, travel agencies, etc. But on the other hand, whether there is much space left for foreigners is worth paying attention to. For example, foreigners need to make reservations and buy tickets in advance to visit the Forbidden City and other popular scenic spots. If I can't buy tickets, I may not want to come.

Personnel issues: Due to the relative stagnation of inbound tourism in recent years, foreign language tour guides, external relations, and some new tourist routes are not fully prepared. For example, when foreigners come to China now, do they still have to visit Beijing, Xi'an, Shanghai, Guilin, and Guangzhou? Do they have to see traditional Chinese cultural symbols? Yes, but they will pay more attention to a modern China, a China that embodies national rejuvenation and people's happiness. For example, airplanes, high-speed railways, and urban construction will become a very important factor in attracting foreigners to visit. Objectively speaking, we are not fully prepared in terms of building national tourist routes in the new era.

In terms of overseas promotion, there is still a lot of work to be done. For example, what kind of China should be promoted, and how to make the story of an elegant China and "Hello! China" truly penetrate into the hearts of the people, instead of just treating the promotion as propaganda. So how to tell the story of China in the new era well, especially to let some overseas travel agents understand China, and let foreigners come to China not only to ask us "city is not city" everywhere, but also to ask us more in cities and villages? Spend money, this is important. Facilitation needs to be further strengthened.

Foreign inbound tourism may exceed 15 million in the second half of the year! It is expected to recover to 80% of 2019 level in the whole year

Dai Bin, President of China Tourism Academy: We have just finished analyzing the tourism economic situation in the second half of the year. We estimate that the number of foreign tourists to China in the second half of the year will exceed 15 million, and the annual data may recover to more than 80% of 2019. In addition, many scenic spots no longer implement the reservation system. Of course, some scenic spots still need to retain the reservation method. We hope that some scenic spots and museums can take convenient measures in two aspects in terms of reservation for foreign tourists in the next step.

Travel agencies should still be given sufficient ticket quotas for group tours.

Foreigners take relatively longer to make travel decisions. They will not decide to travel in the afternoon and make a decision in the morning. They may often make decisions a month or even longer in advance. This requires that the time for ticket reservations should be advanced accordingly, for example, tickets should be issued a month or even longer in advance. Otherwise, inbound tourists will not be able to enter China, which will greatly affect their travel experience and mood.

Among the three major tourism markets, which one is more important? How necessary is it to develop inbound tourism?

The tourism market consists of three major parts, including inbound tourism, domestic tourism, and outbound tourism. In your opinion, which market is more important? Or must we develop them in a coordinated manner? In addition, some people may think that we have made so much effort, but the number of foreigners traveling to China in the second half of the year is expected to exceed 15 million. Is it necessary to attach so much importance to inbound tourism?

Dai Bin, President of China Tourism Academy: First of all, the coordinated development of the three major markets is an established policy for the development of tourism. The development of the tourism economy must of course focus on the tourism needs of the people of the country and enable them to live a better life. But at the same time, I think it is impossible for any country to give up the inbound tourism market when developing tourism. In fact, the development of tourism in my country after reform and opening up started from inbound tourism. The 1980s was the "golden decade" of inbound tourism, and the development of inbound tourism is very important.

1. It can improve our national image and create and shape a more open, inclusive and friendly national image, which will have a direct positive impact on foreign investment, foreign trade and other aspects.

2. Inbound tourism can bring direct tourism consumption and help us generate foreign exchange. We cannot stop developing inbound tourism just because the economy is developing and the domestic tourism market is doing well. Instead, we should make good use of both domestic and foreign tourism markets and resources.

3. More importantly, after foreigners arrive through the inbound tourism market, they will also help us improve the shortcomings in tourism economic development and enhance our service quality from an exotic cultural perspective.

Therefore, in the new historical period, the determination to develop inbound tourism must not be shaken, and the confidence in developing inbound tourism will become higher and higher.

How to build a tourism image and enhance its attractiveness to foreign tourists?

Dai Bin, President of China Tourism Academy: I hope to create a more three-dimensional and comprehensive tourism image in the publicity and promotion. I hope that foreigners who come to China will learn about a China that is elegant and colorful, from the Book of Songs to the Dream of the Red Chamber; a China that is magnificent, from Huangshan to the Yellow River; we also want foreigners to come to China and see young people wearing ancient costumes in the Temple of Heaven Park, wandering freely on the streets, and smiling at scenic spots. In other words, we need to let foreigners see the new image of people walking freely on this land. So when promoting China abroad, how to tell the story of China's tourism well requires some new means.

Editor | Liu Xin Source | CCTV News Please indicate the source for reprinting