Hebei's tourism revenue passes 600 billion yuan in 2017

The tourism industry has become a new source of economic growth for northern China's Hebei Province, according to reports at a provincial meeting on Jan. 16.

Baiyangdian, one of the largest freshwater wetlands in north China and a favorable tourist destination in Hebei Province. [Photo by Guo Yiming/China SCIO]

Figures show that Hebei had received around 570 million domestic and foreign visitors in 2017, a year-on-year increase of 23 percent. The province achieved an annual tourism revenue of over 600 billion yuan (US$93.3 billion), a year-on-year increase of 32 percent.

This growth was a result of the supply-side structural reform in Hebei's tourism industry. The total tourism investment in the province last year was over 100 billion yuan, exceeding the expected target by a large margin. Tourism programs, in turn, became more diversified as well as more focused on quality- and experience-oriented growth.

Public services and facilities at tourist sites have also improved. Over 9,000 public toilets have been built in the past three years, significantly surpassing the target number of 1,920 set by the China National Tourism Administration.

Last year, the province provided 40 million yuan in special funding to boost rural tourism, which helped to lift over 80,000 people out of poverty.