Big circus expected to boost visits to Hunan

Tourism sector skyrockets

Tourism investment enjoyed 30.5 percent growth in the first half of 2016, about 23 percentage points higher than the growth rate of the service sector as a whole.

The China National Tourism Administration said that from January to June, there were nearly 10,000 tourism projects under construction. Total investment in the first half-year surpassed 421 billion yuan ($63 billion), a jump of 30.5 percent over the same period last year.

The administration said private-sector players, resorts and themed tours in villages are taking the lead, as the country's tourists have shifted their interests from sightseeing to leisure.

Zhan Dongmei, associate researcher at the China Tourism Academy, said travelers are losing interest in going to traditional scenic spots.

"We have more and more tourists, but less and less of them go to scenic spots that sell tickets," she said. "I believe that in the future there will be an overcapacity issue. We will probably see fewer scenic spots to deal with that."

"Resorts, such as theme parks, are attracting investment and tourists," she added. "By 2020, we will have 64 theme parks in China with the visits nearly double the number in 2015. China will replace the United States as the largest theme park consumption market."