China seen as a safe bet for tourists
Country's relative security is a feather in its cap, particularly following Paris attacks, experts say
Concerns over public security in Europe after the deadly terrorist attacks in Paris last week could boost tourism to China, experts said yesterday.
"Violent extremism in Europe has been a challenge to modern society, but in another way, it will be an opportunity [for China's inbound tourism] as China remains a relatively safe destination for tourists," Zhang Lingyun, director of the Tourism Development Research Institute of Beijing Union University, said.
The number of trips to China made by international tourists declined to about 128 million in 2014, dropping 0.45 per cent from the previous year, according to the China Tourism Academy, which released its annual report on inbound tourism yesterday.
That fall was despite revenue from such tourists growing 10.16 per cent year on year to 56.9 billion yuan (HK$69.2 billion).
It was the third consecutive decline in trips since 2012 and comes despite measures introduced in 2013 to boost the country's appeal. The measures included a law to weed out unscrupulous tour operators, the expansion of a 72-hour visa-free programme for passengers travelling through major cities, and tax refunds in Beijing and Shanghai.
Experts from the academy said the slight drop in tourists coupled with the growth in revenue indicated a mild recovery given the 2.3 per cent decline in inbound travellers in 2013.