Destinations known | Wuhan tops Chinese tourists’ domestic destination wish list, but very few are actually visiting
- According to a recent study, Chinese tourists can’t wait to visit the city and Hubei province to aid the area’s economic recovery
- But visitor numbers for the recent public holiday suggest that sentiment hasn’t yet translated into real-world trips
In a country as vast and varied as China, domestic tourism holds a lot of promise. Without ever having to leave their homeland, excursionists can encounter Unesco-approved national parks and centuries-old monuments to human history – but now that sightseeing is set to make a tentative return, where are the country’s travel-deprived tourists hoping to go?
Well, according to analysis conducted by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences Tourism Research Centre (CASSTRC) and the Tencent Culture and Tourism Industry Research Centre, and published on April 28, Wuhan has become the most desirable urban destination in the nation, edging Beijing from the top spot. Prior to becoming ground zero of the coronavirus outbreak, the capital of Hubei province had ranked eighth on the domestic city wish list of Chinese travellers, CNN Travel reported on May 1, adding that the hashtag “Wuhan becomes the top city netizens want to visit after the epidemic” had been trending on Chinese social media.
In terms of popular provinces, Hubei leapfrogged into the top 10, scoring second only to Beijing, while Hubei-based attractions such as Shennongjia, a forested region recognised for its biodiversity, and Wuhan’s Yellow Crane Tower were among the 20 most favoured.
Speaking to local media, CASSTRC director Song Rui said the study “expressed the public’s concern and support for the hero city”. The findings illustrated “nostalgia” and “longing for tourism”, according to an article in the Beijing Daily newspaper, which also claimed that travellers hoped to contribute to Hubei’s economic recovery through tourism.
