Shanghai International Resort sees visitor number surge 81%

Shanghai International Resort, which includes the iconic Shanghai Disney Resort and the outlet mall Bicester Village Shanghai, saw its total number of visitors jump 81 percent year-on-year to 6.3 million in the first quarter of 2023, said the resort's administrative commission at a news conference on Monday.

The resort's first-quarter total tourism revenue exceeded 4 billion yuan ($580 million), said Yao Jianfeng, deputy director of the administrative commission of Shanghai International Resort. Both visitor flow and revenue reached record highs.

The number of visitors in the first quarter surged 82 percent from that in 2019, while the income spiked 106 percent from that recorded in the first quarter of 2019.

It is estimated that the annual number of tourists to the resort will reach 20 million for 2023.

The resort, which will celebrate its seventh anniversary on Wednesday, has received more than 113 million tourists over the years. It has made a total tourism income of over 61.5 billion yuan, creating 15,000 jobs.

According to Yao, the world's first and only "Zootopia" theme park will be completed and opened in Shanghai Disney Resort soon, further attracting international and domestic tourists.

Progress has been made in the development and construction of each area in the resort, cultivating new growth momentum, said Yao.

In the western area, the sales of the resort's first residential project have advanced steadily. The construction of two high-quality resort hotels and ecological projects has been accelerated in the northern area. A batch of commercial, cultural and entertainment projects will be developed in the southern area. In the eastern area, the main structure of the Resort station for the airport connection line has realized capping.

More substantial help will be provided to companies registered in the Resort to improve its overall business environment, said its administrative commission.

A maximum of 5 million yuan subsidy will be granted to key companies from the industries of film and television, culture, entertainment, performing arts, tourism, commerce, exhibitions and sports. For service platforms and film and television special effects base projects operating in the Resort, a maximum of 10 million yuan will be supported. Industrial parks and incubators will be given a maximum of 10 million yuan of support.