Beijing sets records in tourist numbers, revenue during Jan-Aug period

Beijing welcomed nearly 250 million tourists and generated 450 billion yuan (about 63.3 billion U.S. dollars) in tourism revenue during the first eight months of this year, setting new records for the period, mayor Yin Yong said on Thursday.

During this period, the Chinese capital received over 2.3 million inbound tourists, marking a more than 200 percent increase from the same period last year, Yin said at the 2024 World Tourism Cooperation and Development Conference.

As one of the world's top tourist destinations, Beijing remains highly focused on advancing its tourism industry, Yin noted, adding that the city continues to enhance its tourism infrastructure and service quality while accelerating the recovery and growth of the sector.

Organized by the World Tourism Cities Federation (WTCF), the conference was held in Beijing on Thursday. As a key forum of the ongoing 2024 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS), the conference attracted over 400 representatives from 45 countries and regions.

This year, the Chinese capital introduced a series of measures aimed at boosting tourism, including the Beijing Pass -- a multi-purpose card designed to enhance convenience for international visitors by simplifying payments for transportation, tourist sites, and shopping centers.