According to data from the Zhangjiajie Smart Tourism Platform, Zhangjiajie received 994,500 inbound tourists in the first eight months of this year, an increase of 20.47% year on year. Tourism foreign exchange earnings rose by 40% to 109.61 million USD, a gain of 31.26 million USD from the same period last year. In August alone, Zhangjiajie recorded 133,800 inbound tourists, up 30.79% compared with the same period last year. The city's inbound tourism market posted broad-based gains in scale, quality, and profitability.

During the January-August period, Zhangjiajie received inbound tourists from 196 countries and regions, reflecting continued expansion of its tourist source countries and accelerated improvement in market structure. In terms of tourist sources, the top ten countries and regions were the Republic of Korea, the United States, China's Taiwan, Russia, China's Hong Kong, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Italy, and Vietnam. Among them, the Republic of Korea remained Zhangjiajie's largest inbound source market, with a cumulative total of 204,600 tourists during the period.

The inbound tourism market has taken on a new landscape, characterized by steady consolidation in traditional markets and explosive growth in long-haul markets from Europe and the United States, resulting in a more diverse and balanced tourist market structure. Since the beginning of this year, Zhangjiajie has seen rapid growth in high-end visitors from Europe and the United States, with visitor numbers from many countries more than doubling. From January to August, the city received 111,800 American tourists, a year-on-year increase of 162.02%; 71,200 Russian tourists, soaring 219.11%; 37,600 Italian tourists, jumping 97.88%; 22,100 British tourists, surging 207.24%; and 14,600 German tourists, rising 18.35%.

In terms of tourist source composition, consumption patterns in inbound tourism are undergoing accelerated evolution, with independent travelers experiencing explosive growth. Data showed that in August alone, independent tourists in Zhangjiajie surged by 129.49% year on year; from January to August, the number increased by 36.56% over the same period last year. The mix of group and independent travelers keeps optimizing, with travelers opting for more personalized and flexible travel experiences. The international atmosphere at major core scenic areas is growing increasingly vibrant. The three major core scenic areas—Wulingyuan, Tianmen Mountain, and the Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon—each have their own strengths in attracting international visitors. Overseas visitors accounted for over 50% of the total at the Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Scenic Area, while independent tourists made up nearly half of the total at Tianmen Mountain Scenic Area. International visitors from around the globe can be seen everywhere, immersing themselves in Zhangjiajie's unparalleled natural landscapes, as the city's global appeal continues to shine.

Transport capacity has steadily supported the flow of inbound tourists. From January to August, Zhangjiajie's high-speed rail handled a cumulative 3.452 million inbound passenger trips, up 2.21% year on year, while road transport saw steady growth and air passenger traffic remained at a high level. The multi-modal international transport network continues to improve, providing convenient access for international tourists.

Currently, Zhangjiajie's inbound tourism market features more diverse tourist sources, a more optimized structure, a wider array of tourism offerings, and stronger growth momentum. The sustained positive trend in inbound tourism is injecting robust international momentum into the high-quality development of the city's culture and tourism industry, enhancing its global reputation as "International Zhangjiajie."

This article is from Hunan Provincial Government. www.enghunan.gov.cn.

Translator: Xiao Juan

Chinese source: hunantoday