Innovation, integration help Tianjin's Spring Festival tourism revenue jump 10%

The growth in the number of visitors and tourism revenue during Spring Festival in Tianjin is credited to a systematic strategy involving innovation, integration, service, and more, said Wang Zhiping, a deputy to the 14th National People's Congress and head of the government of Tianjin's Xiqing district, during a news conference on Friday at the ongoing two sessions.

Official data shows that during this year's Spring Festival holiday, Tianjin saw year-on-year increases of over 10 percent in both tourist visits and tourism revenue. The city was also named one of the "Top 10 National Intangible Cultural Heritage Destinations".

"As a provincial all-for-one tourism demonstration zone, Xiqing is tapping deeper into cultural tourism resources like Yangliuqing Ancient Town and the Jingwu Martial Arts culture associated with Huo Yuanjia, linking them like a string of pearls," said Wang, who is also deputy Party secretary of the district.

During the holiday, Yangliuqing Ancient Town reported a 12.7 percent increase in visitor numbers and a 78.6 percent surge in comprehensive revenue. Its revitalization measures included hosting the 29th Yangliuqing Lantern Show, staging large-scale immersive performances, and creating specialized marketplaces.

To improve convenience, the local authorities coordinated to create over 6,000 public parking spaces and added numerous mobile restrooms.

Meanwhile, Tianjin is playing the innovation card to attract younger visitors.

"We must constantly innovate our tourism offerings to align with the preferences of the younger generation," Wang noted. This includes creating trendy brands like "Night of the Haihe River" and developing themed hotels and boutique homestays.

Chen Bing, deputy director-general of the Tianjin Culture and Tourism Bureau, said in previous interviews that the city's goal is to build itself into a "cultural and tourism destination that is metropolitan, experiential, youth-oriented, and rich in cultural heritage".

Making intangible cultural heritage appealing to the youth, such as through study-tour experiences for Yangliuqing woodblock New Year paintings and youth-focused cultural and creative products, is part of this effort, Chen said.

Beyond these priorities, Tianjin is advancing other measures, such as deepening coordination within the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and promoting all-for-one tourism. Through these comprehensive initiatives, Tianjin aims to solidify its position as a leading domestic tourism destination, Wang added.