On 23 October 2024, Beijing issued the Implementation Plan for Promoting High-Quality Development of Tourism (“Implementation Plan”). The goal of this plan is to implement a series of comprehensive measures that drive significant progress in Beijing’s tourism industry, positioning the city as a world-class tourism destination and a leader in global tourism. The plan covers a wide range of strategies, including tourism integration with culture, enhancing service quality, strengthening project development, and reinforcing international collaboration, with a focus on innovation and growth to elevate Beijing’s status as a global tourism hub. The specific measures are as follows:
1. Overall Strategy
The Implementation Plan explicitly states that Beijing will treat tourism as a strategic pillar industry, a people’s industry, and a well-being industry that is integral to the construction of the “four centers” (political, cultural, international exchange, and technological innovation centers). By leveraging the city’s unique historical and cultural resources, such as its ancient imperial culture, red culture, Beijing-style culture, and innovation culture, Beijing aims to promote the deep integration of culture and tourism, creating new products and business models in the process. The development will follow a model of "culture + industries" and "industries + culture" to encourage multi-sectoral integration.
This strategy highlights the deep fusion of culture and tourism, which not only enhances the uniqueness of tourism products but also revitalizes cultural heritage. The “culture + industries” model stimulates collaboration between various sectors, boosting the overall vitality of the tourism industry.
2. Optimizing Tourism Spatial Layout and Promoting All-Region Tourism
To advance all-region tourism development, the Implementation Plan outlines specific initiatives aimed at optimizing spatial distribution. First, Beijing will focus on enhancing the tourism environment in the core functional areas of the capital, creating pedestrian-friendly, tourist-oriented streets and highlighting historical buildings. The city’s sub-center and surrounding regions will focus on developing distinctive leisure tourism projects to meet overflow demand. Meanwhile, ecological conservation areas will balance tourism development with environmental protection, improving rural tourism quality and contributing to rural revitalization. This initiative aligns well with sustainable development principles, combining ecological preservation with tourism growth, which helps mitigate the environmental impacts of tourism. Additionally, promoting rural tourism will support regional balance and contribute to the revitalization of rural economies.
Moreover, districts such as Chaoyang, Fangshan, Huairou, and Yanqing will work to establish national-level tourism and leisure cities, while world-renowned heritage sites and national 5A-level attractions like the Forbidden City and the Great Wall will be further developed as world-class tourist destinations. At the same time, collaboration with the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (Jing-Jin-Ji) region will be strengthened through coordinated planning, shared markets, and resource integration to form a world-class tourism belt in the region. The integration of tourism resources within the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei area can create a more attractive tourism destination and provide visitors with more diverse options while also promoting regional economic growth.
3. Upgrading the Tourism Product System and Promoting Innovation and Technology
To enhance the diversity and innovation of tourism products, the Implementation Plan emphasizes the integration of culture and tourism in product development. Leveraging Beijing’s rich historical and cultural background, the city will launch cultural tourism products based on landmarks like the central axis of Beijing, the Great Wall Cultural Belt, and the Grand Canal Cultural Belt. Additionally, the city will continue to promote its status as a “museum city” and a “city of performing arts,” offering more immersive and interactive tourism experiences.
In terms of technology, Beijing plans to harness its technological innovation advantages by introducing new technologies such as autonomous driving and virtual reality to create futuristic tourism experiences. Furthermore, the city will encourage the development of industrial tourism, revitalizing industrial heritage sites and integrating tourism, shopping, and experiences into unique industrial tourism destinations. Technological innovation is an essential driver of tourism development, enhancing interactive experiences and shifting the industry towards digitalization and smart tourism. The promotion of industrial tourism also adds diversity to the tourism product mix, catering to tech-savvy and innovation-oriented visitors.
Beijing will also focus on fashion tourism, sports tourism, and rural tourism. The city plans to boost nighttime tourism consumption by creating a series of cultural and tourism projects that attract nighttime visitors. Leveraging its Olympic heritage, Beijing will host more international sports events and develop tourism products around these events, while also fostering high-quality rural tourism and the development of specialty guesthouses. Combining night tourism with sports tourism enhances Beijing’s tourism appeal by expanding consumption scenarios and leveraging the global popularity of its Olympic legacy. Additionally, rural tourism and specialty guesthouses can meet the growing demand for unique and personalized travel experiences.
4. Enhancing Service Quality and Improving Visitor Experience
To improve the overall visitor experience, the Implementation Plan emphasizes the need to enhance public service facilities in tourism. Specific measures include improving signage at tourist spots, optimizing public services such as tourist information and transportation hubs, and building a smart tourism platform to leverage big data and artificial intelligence to monitor tourism dynamics and improve service efficiency.
In terms of transportation, Beijing will optimize its tourism transport network by constructing a green transport system, promoting efficient connections for tourist buses, special tourist trains, and other transportation modes. Furthermore, the city will develop tourist routes and green travel paths in suburban areas to improve the visitor experience.
The development of a smart tourism platform is crucial for improving service quality. It not only enhances convenience for visitors but also allows for data-driven decision-making, optimizing management and resource allocation across the tourism industry. Optimizing transportation infrastructure is essential for providing a seamless travel experience. A green transport system also aligns with sustainability goals and reduces the environmental impact of tourism.
5. Raising Tourism Industry Capacity and Strengthening Project Development
The Implementation Plan also emphasizes raising the capacity of the tourism industry through project development and fostering market entities. Key tourism projects will be expedited, including the second phase of the Universal Theme Park and the Jin Hai Lake Water Sports Cluster. Additionally, Beijing will attract high-quality domestic and international tourism enterprises to invest in the city’s tourism market.
6. Building a Global Tourism Brand and Strengthening International Cooperation
To enhance Beijing’s international tourism visibility, the plan proposes creating a multi-dimensional tourism brand matrix that includes destination brands, event brands, and product brands. The city will also strengthen its brand promotion through social media, international digital platforms, and cultural exchanges with global partner cities.
In terms of international collaboration, Beijing plans to use platforms such as the Belt and Road Initiative to promote deeper tourism cooperation and enhance Beijing’s global tourism influence. Strengthening international partnerships is crucial for Beijing’s tourism industry to gain a prominent position on the global stage. Leveraging international platforms like the Belt and Road Initiative will expand Beijing’s tourism market and enhance its global influence.
7. Guaranteeing Successful Implementation
To ensure the successful execution of these measures, the Implementation Plan stresses the importance of strengthening leadership and resource allocation. A municipal tourism coordination mechanism will be established to promote cross-departmental cooperation and ensure that policies and projects are carried out effectively. Additionally, Beijing will explore innovative tourism land policies and invest in talent development to provide strong policy support.
Comments
The Implementation Plan lays out a clear, actionable roadmap for transforming the city's tourism sector. By focusing on practical measures such as improving spatial planning, upgrading tourism products, and enhancing the overall service experience, these policies aim to create a more vibrant and competitive tourism environment. Specific actions include developing new cultural tourism offerings, leveraging technology to improve visitor experiences, and fostering innovation in tourism services. With these targeted initiatives, Beijing is positioning itself for significant growth in the coming years, aiming to become a leading global tourism destination with world-class attractions and services that cater to both domestic and international visitors.
1. Overall Strategy
The Implementation Plan explicitly states that Beijing will treat tourism as a strategic pillar industry, a people’s industry, and a well-being industry that is integral to the construction of the “four centers” (political, cultural, international exchange, and technological innovation centers). By leveraging the city’s unique historical and cultural resources, such as its ancient imperial culture, red culture, Beijing-style culture, and innovation culture, Beijing aims to promote the deep integration of culture and tourism, creating new products and business models in the process. The development will follow a model of "culture + industries" and "industries + culture" to encourage multi-sectoral integration.
This strategy highlights the deep fusion of culture and tourism, which not only enhances the uniqueness of tourism products but also revitalizes cultural heritage. The “culture + industries” model stimulates collaboration between various sectors, boosting the overall vitality of the tourism industry.
2. Optimizing Tourism Spatial Layout and Promoting All-Region Tourism
To advance all-region tourism development, the Implementation Plan outlines specific initiatives aimed at optimizing spatial distribution. First, Beijing will focus on enhancing the tourism environment in the core functional areas of the capital, creating pedestrian-friendly, tourist-oriented streets and highlighting historical buildings. The city’s sub-center and surrounding regions will focus on developing distinctive leisure tourism projects to meet overflow demand. Meanwhile, ecological conservation areas will balance tourism development with environmental protection, improving rural tourism quality and contributing to rural revitalization. This initiative aligns well with sustainable development principles, combining ecological preservation with tourism growth, which helps mitigate the environmental impacts of tourism. Additionally, promoting rural tourism will support regional balance and contribute to the revitalization of rural economies.
Moreover, districts such as Chaoyang, Fangshan, Huairou, and Yanqing will work to establish national-level tourism and leisure cities, while world-renowned heritage sites and national 5A-level attractions like the Forbidden City and the Great Wall will be further developed as world-class tourist destinations. At the same time, collaboration with the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (Jing-Jin-Ji) region will be strengthened through coordinated planning, shared markets, and resource integration to form a world-class tourism belt in the region. The integration of tourism resources within the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei area can create a more attractive tourism destination and provide visitors with more diverse options while also promoting regional economic growth.
3. Upgrading the Tourism Product System and Promoting Innovation and Technology
To enhance the diversity and innovation of tourism products, the Implementation Plan emphasizes the integration of culture and tourism in product development. Leveraging Beijing’s rich historical and cultural background, the city will launch cultural tourism products based on landmarks like the central axis of Beijing, the Great Wall Cultural Belt, and the Grand Canal Cultural Belt. Additionally, the city will continue to promote its status as a “museum city” and a “city of performing arts,” offering more immersive and interactive tourism experiences.
In terms of technology, Beijing plans to harness its technological innovation advantages by introducing new technologies such as autonomous driving and virtual reality to create futuristic tourism experiences. Furthermore, the city will encourage the development of industrial tourism, revitalizing industrial heritage sites and integrating tourism, shopping, and experiences into unique industrial tourism destinations. Technological innovation is an essential driver of tourism development, enhancing interactive experiences and shifting the industry towards digitalization and smart tourism. The promotion of industrial tourism also adds diversity to the tourism product mix, catering to tech-savvy and innovation-oriented visitors.
Beijing will also focus on fashion tourism, sports tourism, and rural tourism. The city plans to boost nighttime tourism consumption by creating a series of cultural and tourism projects that attract nighttime visitors. Leveraging its Olympic heritage, Beijing will host more international sports events and develop tourism products around these events, while also fostering high-quality rural tourism and the development of specialty guesthouses. Combining night tourism with sports tourism enhances Beijing’s tourism appeal by expanding consumption scenarios and leveraging the global popularity of its Olympic legacy. Additionally, rural tourism and specialty guesthouses can meet the growing demand for unique and personalized travel experiences.
4. Enhancing Service Quality and Improving Visitor Experience
To improve the overall visitor experience, the Implementation Plan emphasizes the need to enhance public service facilities in tourism. Specific measures include improving signage at tourist spots, optimizing public services such as tourist information and transportation hubs, and building a smart tourism platform to leverage big data and artificial intelligence to monitor tourism dynamics and improve service efficiency.
In terms of transportation, Beijing will optimize its tourism transport network by constructing a green transport system, promoting efficient connections for tourist buses, special tourist trains, and other transportation modes. Furthermore, the city will develop tourist routes and green travel paths in suburban areas to improve the visitor experience.
The development of a smart tourism platform is crucial for improving service quality. It not only enhances convenience for visitors but also allows for data-driven decision-making, optimizing management and resource allocation across the tourism industry. Optimizing transportation infrastructure is essential for providing a seamless travel experience. A green transport system also aligns with sustainability goals and reduces the environmental impact of tourism.
5. Raising Tourism Industry Capacity and Strengthening Project Development
The Implementation Plan also emphasizes raising the capacity of the tourism industry through project development and fostering market entities. Key tourism projects will be expedited, including the second phase of the Universal Theme Park and the Jin Hai Lake Water Sports Cluster. Additionally, Beijing will attract high-quality domestic and international tourism enterprises to invest in the city’s tourism market.
6. Building a Global Tourism Brand and Strengthening International Cooperation
To enhance Beijing’s international tourism visibility, the plan proposes creating a multi-dimensional tourism brand matrix that includes destination brands, event brands, and product brands. The city will also strengthen its brand promotion through social media, international digital platforms, and cultural exchanges with global partner cities.
In terms of international collaboration, Beijing plans to use platforms such as the Belt and Road Initiative to promote deeper tourism cooperation and enhance Beijing’s global tourism influence. Strengthening international partnerships is crucial for Beijing’s tourism industry to gain a prominent position on the global stage. Leveraging international platforms like the Belt and Road Initiative will expand Beijing’s tourism market and enhance its global influence.
7. Guaranteeing Successful Implementation
To ensure the successful execution of these measures, the Implementation Plan stresses the importance of strengthening leadership and resource allocation. A municipal tourism coordination mechanism will be established to promote cross-departmental cooperation and ensure that policies and projects are carried out effectively. Additionally, Beijing will explore innovative tourism land policies and invest in talent development to provide strong policy support.
Comments
The Implementation Plan lays out a clear, actionable roadmap for transforming the city's tourism sector. By focusing on practical measures such as improving spatial planning, upgrading tourism products, and enhancing the overall service experience, these policies aim to create a more vibrant and competitive tourism environment. Specific actions include developing new cultural tourism offerings, leveraging technology to improve visitor experiences, and fostering innovation in tourism services. With these targeted initiatives, Beijing is positioning itself for significant growth in the coming years, aiming to become a leading global tourism destination with world-class attractions and services that cater to both domestic and international visitors.