The 2024 World Conference on Tourism Cooperation and Development, a key forum during the 2024 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS), was held in Beijing on Thursday, drawing over 400 representatives from 45 countries and regions to discuss international tourism cooperation.
Participants at the meeting highlighted that cultural tourism is emerging as a global growth trend, and China has become the largest source of international tourists as well as a key global destination.
The country continues to introduce a series of measures to enhance the travel experience for foreign visitors, providing a strong boost to the global tourism industry.
International attendees highlighted China's appeal in this regard due to its standing as one of the world's oldest civilizations.
"Actually, I do think that you have a great opportunity here. Your culture is so huge. That heritage that's shared by European countries, from our perspective, in China that heritage is longstanding," said Miodrag Popovic, director of the Tourist Organization of the City of Belgrade.
The conference also released several research findings, including the rankings of the development of world tourism cities in 2023.
According to the report, global tourism revenue in 2023 jumped 21.5 percent year on year, nearly on par with pre-pandemic levels, with the recovery of the tourism sector gathering pace.
In the 2023 global ranking of tourism cities, Beijing and Shanghai ranked 8th and 10th, respectively.
World tourism conference in Beijing spotlights int'l tourism cooperation
Inbound tourism in Suifenhe City, at the China-Russia border in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, has seen a continued robust growth, with many Russian visitors coming in for shopping tours buoyed by the resumption of visa-free group tours between China and Russia in September 2023.
In the early morning, Chinese tour guide Zhao Liyan was already waiting at the entry hall of the Suifenhe highway port, anticipating the arrival of her Russian clients who had departed from Pogranichny.
She said Russian citizens now can enjoy visa-free stays of up to 15 days in China for tourism as part of a tour group.
"Travel agencies from both China and Russia are included in the List of Agreements on Mutual Visa Exemption. Registering one day in advance, they can enter China the next day. It's very convenient," explained Zhao.
Situated on the China-Russia border, the city is just a 16-kilometer drive from Pogranichny. On weekends, inbound buses arrive about every half an hour, and it usually takes Russian tourists about 10 minutes to complete customs clearance.
"I love Chinese food so much, including stir-fried eggplant, potato and peppers as well as fried pork in scoop. I have been to many Chinese cities myself, such as Harbin, Beijing, and Shanghai. I particularly like Shanghai. I like your festivals, such as the Chinese Spring Festival and the Mid-Autumn Festival," said a tourist.
According to Zhao, many of Russians coming to Suifenhe, are regular visitors and are already familiar with this city. In 2013, the city was authorized as China's first pilot zone where the Russian ruble can be officially used alongside the Chinese yuan. Local merchants are generally capable of speaking some Russian, facilitating direct communication.
"Over the past decade, I've been doing businesses with Russians. As I hear what the Russian speakers say every day, I can speak some Russian too, just like what we would say in Chinese," said Wang Yan, a merchant.
Russian woman Elena Posevkina, who met her Chinese husband Yang Ning in Suifenhe six years ago and settled down there, also said that more and more Russians come to China to travel, live, study and work.
"China is very close to Russia. It's very convenient to come here. The country is very nice, beautiful and safe. Nowadays, many Russians are learning Chinese, starting from a young age," she said.
China's Suifenhe sees thriving inbound tourism
