On March 8, a group of 81 Russian travel operators arrived in Yichang for a seven-day familiarization tour, marking the first large European travel trade delegation to visit the city this year.

　　In recent years, Yichang’s inbound tourism market has continued to gain momentum. In 2025, the city recorded 404,000 inbound tourist arrivals and generated 1.13 billion yuan in international tourism revenue, reflecting year-on-year increases of 29% and 32%, respectively. Bolstered by visa-free policies and the launch of direct international flights, Yichang is attracting a growing number of overseas visitors. (Sanxia Daily: Reporters/Yang Jing and Chen Xiangrui)