'Major surge' expected in inbound tourism

A recent index by the World Tourism Alliance highlighting China's inbound tourism indicates that revitalization is well underway, the head of the organization said at a national-level tourism expo in Tianjin.

"There is still room for improvement toward fully restoring inbound tourism, and a major surge in is expected," said Zhang Xu, chairman of the alliance, on Friday.

He attributed the impressive recovery to a combination of factors, including the successful containment of the COVID-19 pandemic and the tourism sector's contributions to both economic growth and the overall well-being of the population.

Tianjin Mayor Zhang Gong emphasized the city's status as the permanent host of the expo and highlighted its abundant tourism resources.

"As a northern coastal city, Tianjin warmly welcomes both domestic and international tourists to explore its attractions," he said.

The expo attracts around 2,000 prominent tourism companies and organizations, becoming the first offline national-level tourism expo to open after the pandemic.