On October 24, the Beijing Tourism Development Conference was held, marking the first tourism-focused meeting initiated by the municipal government in recent years. This conference is also significant as it outlines the establishment of a “big tourism” framework in Beijing.

During the meeting, the “Implementation Opinions on Promoting High-Quality Development of the Tourism Industry in Beijing” were introduced. The plan aims for the tourism industry’s value added to represent over 5% of the city’s GDP by 2029. Additionally, it sets ambitious targets such as an annual growth rate of over 2% in total tourist numbers, 4% in total tourism revenue, and 5% in inbound tourism. The plan also seeks to position the city among the top in the country in terms of the number of national five-star tourist attractions and various national tourism特色产业 (specialty industries).

The Implementation Opinions outline seven key initiatives to transform Beijing into a leading hub for tourism development in the country. Notably, the plan emphasizes the integration of tourism with the city’s essential functions, fostering a synergy between culture and tourism to create a strategic pillar for the economy and enhancing residents’ quality of life.

One of the priorities is to optimize the spatial layout of tourism across the city, ensuring a balanced and orderly development that adheres to the city’s overall planning. The goal is to create vibrant tourism areas tailored to different district resources, promote national-level leisure cities, and elevate tourism collaboration across the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region to build a world-class tourism circle.

The plan also focuses on enhancing the product framework to elevate the tourism experience. It encourages the development of new tourism products by integrating cultural and technological advancements while celebrating the unique characteristics of Beijing as an ancient capital.

Additionally, Beijing aims to leverage its status as a “Double Olympic City” to boost sports tourism, improve rural tourism offerings, and innovate new commercial tourism experiences, thereby expanding tourism consumption.

To enhance visitor experiences, the Implementation Opinions call for improving service systems such as integrating urban operations with tourism services, elevating the standard of public services, and optimizing transport linking popular attractions with intercity transport.

Moreover, Beijing is committed to building a tourism industry system that matches its strategic positioning as the capital, encouraging international tourism platforms and leading domestic companies to establish a presence in the city.

To bolster its tourism brand, the plan includes initiatives for enhanced promotion, developing a comprehensive tourism brand matrix, and leveraging social media and international events for better visibility. It also aims at deepening reform in tourism investment and operations while enhancing the regulatory framework to optimize market conditions and ensure a safe, satisfying experience for both visitors and residents alike.

Overall, the Beijing authorities are taking significant strides to ensure these seven initiatives are successfully implemented, involving coordinated efforts across various government levels to support this plan.