[Photo via VCG]

Recently, Tongcheng Travel released the Beijing Tourism Consumption Report for 2024 (hereinafter referred to as the Report). According to the Report, Beijing maintained its position as the top inbound tourism destination in the Chinese mainland for the year, with China's Hong Kong SAR being the primary source of inbound tourists.

According to data from the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism, Beijing recorded 3.17 million visits made by overseas inbound tourists between January and October 2024, indicating a 198.8-percent increase compared with the same period in 2023. The top 10 source markets for inbound tourism in Beijing are China's Hong Kong SAR, the United States, Russia, China's Taiwan, Germany, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, the Republic of Korea, and the United Kingdom. Beijing's inbound tourism sector grew faster in 2024 due to the ongoing optimization of unilateral visa exemption and transit visa-free policies. The top 10 source markets by the increase of tourist arrivals are Spain, Malaysia, Vietnam, Italy, Indonesia, Thailand, Russia, Singapore, France, and the Philippines.

The Report also demonstrates that consumption at historic sites makes the largest contribution to Beijing’s cultural tourism revenue. Specifically, the Central Axis has emerged as a must-visit location for both Chinese and foreign tourists. Themed parks, zoos, botanical gardens and other attractions favored by both locals and tourists from elsewhere became more popular choices. Among China's top 10 popular destinations in 2024, Beijing ranked first in terms of the average number of room nights per overnight visitor, of which nearly 25 percent was recorded in Chaoyang District.

(Source: The Beijing News)