This year’s Spring Festival holiday saw a boom in outbound travel by Chinese tourists. According to estimates from the data center of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of China, approximately 3.6 million people traveled abroad during the Spring Festival holiday. People from many countries said that the increase in Chinese outbound tourists not only effectively promotes the development of international tourism, but also adds impetus to the recovery of the world economy.

“It’s much more convenient to travel abroad now”

　　On the second day of the Lunar New Year, Siam Plaza, a shopping mall in Bangkok, Thailand, is bustling with tourists. Xiaolan, a tourist from Shanghai, said that after Thailand announced a visa-free policy for Chinese tourists for about five months last September, the number of tourists visiting Thailand has significantly increased. "I plan to travel to Malaysia in a few days. Traveling abroad is much easier now."

　　In order to attract more Chinese tourists to visit, some countries in Southeast Asia have successively launched visa-free policies. Starting from December 1, 2023, Malaysia will implement visa-free visa exemption measures for Chinese citizens within 30 days of entry. On January 28 this year, China and Thailand signed an agreement on mutual visa exemption for ordinary passport holders. The agreement will officially take effect on March 1. On February 9, the agreement between China and Singapore on mutual visa exemption for ordinary passport holders officially came into effect. On the first day when the agreement came into effect, many Chinese tourists entered Singapore to experience the convenience brought by the visa-free policy. During the Spring Festival, Singapore’s landmark Gardens by the Bay specially launches special lanterns, and many Chinese tourists visit here.

　　During the Spring Festival, red lanterns are hung high on Jonker Street in Malacca, Malaysia, creating a festive scene. This historical district is one of the main destinations for Chinese immigrants to Southeast Asia and has important historical and cultural value. Gan Tianlu, vice president of the Malaysia-China Public Relations Association and chairman of the Malacca Historic City (Jonker Street) Working Committee, said that during the Spring Festival, there was an endless stream of Chinese tourists wearing local traditional clothes to check in, and their arrival was warmly welcomed by the local people. .

　　Egypt is one of the main destinations for Chinese tourists to travel abroad during the Spring Festival holiday. On February 10, Cairo International Airport held a "Welcome Chinese Tourists to Egypt to Celebrate New Year" ceremony to welcome more than 300 Chinese tourists who arrived that day. At the welcome ceremony, the Egyptian Tourism Promotion Authority presented gifts with local characteristics to Chinese tourists and wished Chinese tourists a happy New Year. "The Pyramids, the Sphinx, the Egyptian Museum, the Karnak Temple...there are especially many Chinese tourists coming to Egypt this year, and Chinese tourists can be seen in almost every scenic spot." Egyptian tour guide Hadib told reporters, The Spring Festival is his busiest period.

　　In mid-January, China announced that it would grant Switzerland unilateral visa-free treatment, and Switzerland would also provide more visa facilities for Chinese citizens and Chinese companies investing in Switzerland. Hannah, a coach at a ski school in Davos, Switzerland, said that Davos attracts many Chinese ski enthusiasts every year. "Chinese ski enthusiasts are friendly, kind and passionate about skiing." Hannah said that travel between the two countries has become more convenient now, and she is looking forward to experiencing China's ski resorts.

“Proof of the vitality of China’s economy”

　　The recently released "World Travel Market Global Report" predicts that the value of China's outbound tourism will increase by 131% from 2024 to 2033.

　　Chai Wacharon, spokesman for the Prime Minister's Office of Thailand, said that after the Thailand-China mutual visa exemption agreement takes effect on March 1, more Chinese tourists are expected to choose Thailand as a tourist destination. This will further promote the growth of Thailand's tourism industry and bring more vitality to economic development.

　　Ibrahim, marketing manager of Egypt's Birds of Paradise travel agency, said that Chinese outbound tourism has brought huge dividends to the company. "Compared with the same period last year, the number of Chinese tourists we received from late January to early February increased by about four times. The number of tourists increased sharply, and the company employees were very happy."

　　Bojan Lalic, director of Serbia’s Belt and Road Initiative Institute, said that since the mutual visa exemption policy between Serbia and China came into effect in 2017, the number of Chinese tourists traveling to Serbia has continued to increase, which has promoted Serbia’s economic development and cultural exchanges between the two countries. "During the Spring Festival this year, colorful celebrations were held across Serbia, and many Chinese tourists came here." He said that China's outbound tourism ranks among the top in the world and has contributed to the economic development of relevant countries. "Since last year, China's outbound tourism has continued to pick up. This is proof of the vitality of China's economy and adds impetus to the global tourism and economic recovery. We eagerly look forward to the arrival of more Chinese tourists."

　　Kairat Batelbayev, executive director of the Kazakhstan Eurasian International Studies Association, said that the popularity of China's outbound tourism continues to rise, driving Kazakhstan's economic development. It is expected that a large number of Chinese tourists will come to Kazakhstan this year, helping the recovery of Kazakhstan’s tourism industry. Chinese tourists' in-depth understanding of Kazakh culture and customs will help promote cultural exchanges between the two countries.

"Effectively promote mutual understanding and mutual understanding among the people"

　　In recent years, Chinese tourists’ outbound travel methods and needs have become more diversified and personalized, and they pay more attention to the in-depth experience of the natural environment, human history and lifestyle of the destination.

　　When the reporter met Ms. Li, a Sichuan tourist in Egypt, she was holding a thick book introducing various museums in Egypt. She planned to spend two days visiting the Egyptian Museum and the Museum of Egyptian Civilization.

　　During the Spring Festival, Qiao Lujing, a tourist from Beijing, started his cultural check-in tour the day after he arrived in Berlin, Germany. He said: "The modern residential complex in Berlin, a world cultural heritage, brings together residential areas with a century-old history and is still the residence of local people. I like this kind of in-depth cultural tour to walk among them in the pouring spring rain and feel it carefully."

　　Mr. Liu, who works in Beijing, chose to travel to France during the Spring Festival and spent the entire holiday in Paris. "I felt romance on the banks of the Seine, and reviewed history at the Palace of Versailles and the Arc de Triomphe." Mr. Liu said that this trip made him feel the resonance of Chinese and French cultures, and it was an unforgettable cultural and artistic journey.

　　In order to welcome Chinese tourists, tourism bureaus of many countries have explored local characteristic resources, actively met the needs of Chinese tourists, and created products with strong cultural experience. Huang Haiguo, director of the Asia-Pacific Department of the United Nations World Tourism Organization, said that in recent years, Chinese tourists have paid more attention to travel experience. Chinese tourists exploring the scenic spots and cultural history of different countries and regions can indirectly promote the protection of local cultural heritage.

　　Farrukh Khakimov, an expert at the Development Strategy Center of Uzbekistan, said that tourists from Uzbekistan and China have a strong interest in each other's historical and cultural heritage. More and more Uzbek people hope to have the opportunity to see China's development achievements with their own eyes. Tourism It is becoming an important part of people-to-people and cultural exchanges between Uzbekistan and China.

　　Egypt's Nile TV reported that more and more Chinese tourists are coming to Egypt and becoming envoys of friendship between the two countries. "This effectively promotes mutual understanding between the people and injects strong impetus into the continued development of relations between the two countries."

　　(Reporters of this newspaper in Beijing, Bangkok, Cairo, Madrid, Berlin, Paris, Rome, and Astana on February 20: Cui Qi, Zhang Jinruo, Huang Peizhao, Xu Hailin, Yan Huan, Xu Xin, Shang Kaiyuan, Xie Yahong, Li Qiang)

　　(See page 17 for related reports)

　　"People's Daily" (Page 03, February 21, 2024)