“This group from Germany was formed by combining six smaller groups,” said Zhou Di, General Manager of the Omega Travel Group. As spring approaches, Yichang is experiencing a surge in inbound tourism. In March this year, the number of foreign tourists received has doubled compared to the same period last year.
The ongoing boom in inbound tourism is attributed to a significant upgrade in China’s visa-free transit policies—extending the stay duration from the previous 72 and 144 hours to 240 hours (10 days), and adding 21 new visa-free transit ports of entry and exit. The stay area in Hubei has also been expanded from Wuhan to the entire province.
Tang Hao, General Manager of Sloth Trip stated, “The channels for attracting tourists have notably increased. We now have a regular Australian tour group every Wednesday and groups from the United States and Malaysia almost every day.” To showcase the charm of Yichang, Sloth Trip has introduced a variety of urban exploration products. For example, Australian tourists arriving next Tuesday will have half a day to explore scenic spots such as the Binjiang Park, the Second Ave Historical and Cultural Block, and the Taozhu Road night market, engaging in an authentic citywalk to experience Yichang’s vibrant culture and local atmosphere.
In addition to the visa-free policies, the launch of direct flights has further fueled inbound tourism. Currently, the Yichang Sanxia International Airport has opened six international and regional routes, offering direct flights to destinations such as Singapore, Vietnam, and Thailand, and allowing tourists to reach Yichang with ease.
A relevant official from the Yichang Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism stated that the continuous optimization of policies has brought unprecedented development opportunities to Yichang’s inbound tourism market. The bureau plans to integrate advantageous resources, innovate tourism products, and reach out to key markets like Bangkok in Thailand, and Hanoi in Vietnam by conducting a series of cultural and tourism promotion activities to better demonstrate Yichang’s unique charm. (Reporter/Yang Jing)