CCTV News: On January 22, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism released the 2024 domestic tourism data. In 2024, the number of domestic tourists was 5.615 billion, an increase of 724 million over the same period last year, an increase of 14.8% year-on-year. As the Spring Festival approaches, traditional Chinese festivals have also attracted more and more foreign tourists, and the popularity of "China Travel" on social media has remained unabated.
Under the latest implementation of the "240-hour" visa-free policy and the continuous expansion of the "visa-free circle of friends" since 2024, inbound tourism has continued to grow rapidly. In recent days, major airports in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou have ushered in a peak in inbound passenger flow. During the Spring Festival holiday, the number of inbound passengers at Shanghai ports is expected to be about 901,000, and the inbound passenger flow at the two major international airports in Shanghai Pudong and Hongqiao increased by about 12.6% compared with last year's Spring Festival holiday; the number of inbound passengers at Beijing ports will reach 456,000, an increase of about 135% year-on-year.
The number of inbound tourists in Chongqing has surged recently. In addition to visiting scenic spots, foreign tourists are also keen on experiencing folk culture and feeling the strong local New Year atmosphere. In Ningbo, Zhejiang, foreign tourists came to the ancient village, wore costumes, painted peasants' paintings, and experienced the rich local intangible folk culture.
Foreign tourists from the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, France and other countries have also recently watched the New Year performances such as dragon dance, lion dance, sugar blowing people, and lantern riddles in Anhui to experience the authentic Chinese New Year.
The first Chinese Spring Festival after the successful application for World Heritage is near. Shanghai has carefully planned more than 100 intangible cultural heritage experience activities. At major business district attractions, various "cute snake" New Year installations have been launched. The lively Yuyuan Lantern Festival is waiting for it. Various rich New Year exhibitions and performances are being prepared in full swing. Some hotels in Shanghai have already welcomed the Spring Festival orders of overseas tourists in advance. Spending the Chinese New Year in Shanghai will become a new attempt for more overseas tourists. This year, Beijing will launch more than 100 special Spring Festival cultural activities during the Spring Festival to welcome domestic and foreign tourists. In 2025, Beijing's inbound tourism will strive to achieve a 5% increase in reception of inbound tourists. It will highlight the "City Walk" urban roaming theme, create a number of leisure products and routes such as night tours, cycling, and tasting, and create the first stop inbound tourism in all aspects.
