Shanxi integrates development of cultural tourism, health and wellness

The Information Office of Shanxi Provincial Government held a press conference on promoting the integrated development of the cultural tourism, health and wellness industries on Aug 16. 

In the first half of this year, 66 scenic spots across the province received 38.53 million tourist visits, a year-on-year increase of 179.43 percent, which generated 2.12 billion yuan ($290.41 million) in revenue, up 294.45 percent. 

In particular, the number of tourists from outside the province has significantly increased, accounting for 41.38 percent of the total number to Shanxi. Meanwhile, the number of tourists from Guangdong, Zhejiang, and Jiangsu provinces has returned to pre-COVID-19 period. 

The recovery in tourism is thanks to a series of measures carried out by the local government. The first batch of subsidies totaling 49.21 million yuan have been put in place, effectively promoting the resumption of work and production in scenic spots across the province, as well as supporting the recovery of the service industry.

Shanxi has focused on developing star-rated hotels, high-quality homestays, catering and entertainment, cultural creativity, health and wellness, and leisure businesses. It has established nine demonstration zones for cultural tourism, health and wellness throughout the province, giving them incentives of 95 million yuan. 

Ten counties (county-level cities, districts) have been selected to develop high-quality cultural tourism, health and wellness clusters. 

Efforts have been underway to promote the upgrading of tourist leisure streets. Currently, there are 24 such streets and 15 nighttime cultural tourism consumption clusters at the provincial level, as well as three tourist leisure streets and five national-level nighttime cultural tourism consumption clusters at the national level. 

Activities such as the 9th Shanxi Tourism Development Conference and the 2023 Digital Cultural Tourism Brand Innovation Conference have been held, expanding the influence of Shanxi's cultural tourism brands. 

The province will further promote the integration and development of its cultural tourism, health and wellness industries in terms of resource development, leading scenic spot construction, product line creation, service facility construction, service quality improvement, infrastructure construction, and the promotion of innovation.