Fans outside a concert to hear a pop group sing as the tickets are sold out at the China's National Stadium, June 3, 2023. /CFP
From packed tourist attractions to sold-out concerts, the cultural and tourism market in China is buzzing this summer. A surge in demand has brought optimism to the consumer market.
The China Tourism Academy predicts that this summer will see the busiest travel market in five years, with an estimated 1.8 billion domestic trips made from June to August. This is projected to generate a whopping 1.2 trillion yuan ($160 billion) in domestic tourism revenue.
The influence of popular artists on the tourism industry is undeniable. For instance, Chinese singer-songwriter Jay Chou's four-day concerts in Haikou, capital city of south China's Hainan Province, resulted in a surge of local tourism revenue totaling 980 million yuan. Similarly, popular boy band TFBOYS' concert in Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, directly generated 416 million yuan in local tourism revenue.
The summer box office has been a resounding success, breaking records by surpassing 17.8 billion yuan in ticket sales. The trend is expected to continue until the end of the season, with the quality of films being highly acclaimed.
The impact of this increased demand goes beyond just ticket sales. Transportation, hotel accommodation, and dining consumption have all experienced a boost as well.
According to data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), commercial passenger transport volume has risen by 47 percent year on year in July, while dining revenue has increased by 15.8 percent.
This year has also seen a high demand for many popular tourist attractions, particularly museums. To accommodate the influx of visitors, some museums have extended their hours of operation, with some locations even offering nighttime and 24-hour openings.
Service retail sales have grown significantly, with a 20.3 percent year-on-year increase from January to July, NBS data showed. This growth rate outpaces that of retail goods sales.
Many local governments have implemented favorable measures in contributing to the vitality of culture and tourism markets, ranging from the distribution of consumption vouchers to discounts on movie tickets.
At a press conference this week, Fu Linghui, a spokesperson for the NBS, expressed optimism about the continued enthusiasm for summer travel and cultural activities, citing data indicates that tourism consumption will continue to recover.
