Tourism in Yunnan shows signs of revival

The tourism sector in China is showing signs of revival despite the threat of pandemic-related lockdowns. CGTN's Yang Jinghao visited southwestern Yunnan Province to see what the popular tourist destination is doing to get tourists back.

Watching a traditional performance, learning to play the djembe drum or taking photos in ethnic costumes, people are seeking their own fun in the Old Town of Lijiang, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site.

Following a slow period, the city of Lijiang is welcoming an increasing number of visitors, even though strict COVID-19 control measures are still in place.

"We'll definitely regret it if we don't make a graduation trip, and we enjoy it so much."

"Though it's not absolutely safe, we still want to travel around the country to enjoy its beauty. We appreciate the local government's efforts on the pandemic control. They provide us much convenience."

Yunnan is among China's top tourist destinations, but the COVID-19 outbreak slashed tourist numbers and revenues, with Lijiang being one of the worst-hit cities.

In late May, the top regulator announced that package tours are only banned in county-level cities with medium or high-risk areas, a move to minimize the impact of the pandemic control measures.

YANG JINGHAO Lijiang, Yunnan Province "To revive tourism, the Yunnan government has rolled out measures to attract visitors from across the country. These include consumer coupons, discounts, and even free admission to a number of tourist spots in the province."

In Lijiang, local authorities also hold regular cultural activities to attract visitors and help the tourism sector pull through.

YANG LINGFANG Deputy Head, Lijiang Culture and Tourism Bureau "We've refunded some travel agencies their deposits and granted some performance companies and hotels subsidies worth more than three million dollars. Next, we'll help some 20 companies get assistance from the provincial government."

Many business people are seeing things pick up and are expecting an influx of tourists as the summer vacation approaches.

MIAO LIWEI Hostel Owner in Lijiang "Since mid-May, our hostel has been booked up every day. Now we continue to offer discount packages via live stream on popular platforms like Douyin, and some 1,500 bookings were made within 10 days."

Many are hoping that as more people resume traveling, the pandemic will become a distant memory. YJH, CGTN, Lijiang, Yunnan Province.