On July 24, the Publicity Department of the Beijing Municipal Committee (Information Office of Beijing Municipal People's Government) held the second session of the series of themed press conferences titled "Celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China" — a special session marking the third anniversary of Beijing's efforts in developing an international consumption center city. The press conference was hosted by Ye Chang, Director of the Foreign News Office of the Publicity Department. Key officials from the Municipal Commerce Bureau, the Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism, the Municipal Bureau of Sports, Haidian District, and Tongzhou District introduced relevant information and answered reporters' questions.

Press Q&A

Reporter: What progress has been made in the culture and tourism sectors over the three years of developing Beijing as an international consumption center city?

Liu Bin, Member of the Party Leadership Group, Deputy Director, and Spokesperson of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism:

The Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism, based on the city's "Four Centers" functional positioning, is focused on addressing shortcomings, strengthening weak areas, and promoting improvement to drive high-quality development in culture and tourism.

In 2023, Beijing received 329 million tourists, an 80% increase from the previous year, surpassing the 2019 level and setting a new record. The total tourism revenue reached 580 billion RMB, a 132% increase from the previous year, ranking first among sub-provincial cities and major cities nationwide. According to the Implementation Plan for Beijing to Cultivate an International Consumer Center City, over the past three years, the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism has led the introduction of 12 policies, implemented 24 key tasks, and coordinated 22 major cultural and tourism projects. As of now, all 12 policies have been introduced, 24 key tasks are steadily progressing, and 22 major projects have begun construction.

First, we introduced policies and built platforms. The Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism has implemented the Supporting Plan for Unleashing Cultural and Tourism Consumption Potential in the Construction of an International Consumption Center City (2021-2025) and issued the Beijing Incentive Measures for Expanding New Cultural and Tourism Consumption. These policies aim to stimulate demand through innovative supply and unlock the potential for cultural and tourism consumption. In 2023, we organized the fourth Beijing Cultural and Tourism Key Projects Investment and Financing Matchmaking Conference, achieving a total investment of 113.5 billion RMB. We have also established a new strategic partnership with the Bank of Beijing, which plans to provide 30 billion RMB in credit to cultural and tourism enterprises in Beijing over the next five years. Additionally, Dongcheng District successfully created the first National Cultural and Financial Cooperation Demonstration Zone, with Dongcheng and Chaoyang Districts selected for the National Cultural and Tourism Industry Integration Development Demonstration Zone list. Pinggu and Mentougou Districts were chosen as pilot areas in the first batch of national cultural industry initiatives to empower rural revitalization.

Second, We hosted events and created brands. We successfully held the "2023 Beijing Culture Forum" and its sub-forum on cultural and tourism integration, focusing on external exchanges and cooperation. Through coordinated efforts between the city and districts, as well as interaction among various departments, we launched a series of cultural and tourism activities to promote consumption, including the "Enjoying Beijing's New Year" and "Beijing Summer Cultural and Tourism Season." The "Roaming Beijing" initiative was deeply implemented, with over 300 themed tour routes centered around the Beijing Central Axis and three cultural belts. We also conducted the selection of "Beijing's Popular Check-in Spots," identifying 300 locations as top destinations. Additionally, we introduced 12 micro-vacation destinations in Beijing for residents and tourists, further enhancing and upgrading the "Beijing Gifts" brand, which made its debut at the National People's Congress and the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, achieving new milestones in distinctiveness, high-end positioning, and international appeal. In 2023, we hosted the first Beijing International Cultural and Tourism Consumption Expo, attracting 66,700 visitors over three days and generating on-site sales of 160 million RMB in various cultural and tourism products.

Third, We have promoted integration and planned for development. We have actively developed "culture and tourism + cycling," introducing 21 cultural and tourism cycling routes in Beijing and hosting the 2023 Beijing-Zhangjiakou Cycling Tour, supporting the high-quality development of the Beijing-Zhangjiakou Sports, Culture, and Tourism Belt. In the realm of "tourism + winter sports," we have continuously hosted the Beijing-Zhangjiakou Ice and Snow Culture Tourism Season and promotional events for Beijing's ice and snow tourism resources, enabling citizens and tourists to fully enjoy winter tourism. We have also advanced industrial tourism by designating industrial tourism demonstration sites, with 13 locations, including the Erqi Factory and Shougang Park, being selected in the first batch of Beijing Industrial Tourism Demonstration Sites. The 751 D.Park and 798 Art District have been recognized as national industrial tourism demonstration bases. Additionally, we have actively developed modern industrial tourism products through "tourism + technology" and promoted health and wellness tourism. Nine townships, including Wangzuo Town in Fengtai District and Jingzhuang Town in Yanqing District, have been designated as Beijing's first forest health and wellness tourism demonstration bases.

Fourth, We have focused on projects and enhanced quality. Over the past three years, Beijing has seen the emergence of several landmark cultural and tourism projects. Universal Beijing Resort opened with great fanfare, quickly becoming one of the city's most popular tourist destinations. The three major cultural buildings of Beijing Municipal Administrative Center, including the Beijing Library, have been put into use, becoming new popular check-in spots for citizens and tourists. Beijing now boasts five national-level all-region tourism demonstration zones in Yanqing, Huairou, Pinggu, Changping, and Mentougou districts. Additionally, there are 14 national-level night culture and tourism consumption clusters, including Qianmen Dajie (St), the 798-751 Art District, Liangma River International Customs Waterfront, and Huaxi Live · Wukesong. The city also has five national-level tourism and leisure streets, including Taikoo Li Sanlitun and Leduo Holiday Plaza, as well as the Yanqing Haituo National Ski Tourism Resort. The Tongzhou Grand Canal Cultural Tourism Scenic Area in Beijing has been listed in AAAAA Tourist Attractions of China, bringing the total number of 5A-level attractions in the city to ten. Beijing WTown International Leisure Tourism Resort has been recognized as Beijing's first national-level tourism resort. Beijing leads the nation with 8 projects among the 42 nationwide smart tourism immersive experience spaces recognized by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the National Development and Reform Commission, and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.

In the next step, we will earnestly implement the cultural and tourism-related requirements put forward by the third plenary session of 20th Central Committee' study and follow the important directives of Xi Jinping on tourism work, and improve the systems and mechanisms for the deep integration of culture and tourism. Additionally, we will further accelerate the development of Beijing as an international consumption center city and promote high-quality development in the cultural and tourism sectors.