21st Century Business Herald:

Since the beginning of this year, the tourism industry has experienced rapid recovery, and the resurgence of the thriving tourism sector has been remarkable. What policies and measures will be taken to further unlock the potential of tourism consumption and promote high-quality development of the industry? Thank you.

Du Jiang:

China's tourism market has experienced a remarkable surge this year. In the first three quarters, figures showed that the domestic tourism sector recorded 3.67 billion visits and generated revenue of 3.7 trillion yuan. This represents year-on-year increases of 75% and 114%, respectively. The demand for tourism among residents has significantly increased, leading to a substantial rise in travel activities. This surge has not only stimulated consumer spending in the sector but also played a role in driving economic recovery.

Next, the MCT will fully implement the guiding principles of the 20th CPC National Congress, focusing on stimulating consumer spending in cultural and tourism sectors, improving people's well-being, and better meeting their needs. Efforts will be made in the following areas:

First, we will optimize the policy environment and address bottlenecks and challenges. In line with new developments in the tourism industry, we will implement the "Measures for Releasing Potential of Tourism Consumption and Promoting High-Quality Development of the Tourism Industr y" issued by the General Office of the State Council. We will take comprehensive actions from both the supply and demand sides to boost confidence in tourism investment and consumption. We are advancing a three-year action plan to improve domestic tourism. This involves enriching the supply of high-quality tourism products, enhancing tourism services, regulating the tourism market, strengthening tourism safety measures, and developing quality tourist destinations with a hospitable atmosphere. Additionally, the ministry is formulating a three-year plan to boost inbound travel, aiming to provide tourists visiting China with more high-quality tourism products and more convenient services.

Second, we will promote the integrated development of industries and improve the supply of new products. We will strive for the in-depth integration of the cultural sector and the tourism industry to improve cultural taste and nurture minds. We will foster new forms and models of consumer spending, launching more "small yet charming" projects for entertainment activities, as well as providing more appealing music events, such as music festivals and concerts. We will promote the healthy development of new business forms, such as scripted role-play games and tourism performances, and we will also make stepped-up efforts to promote the integrated development of tourism and various industries, such as the food, performance, sports, and wellness sectors, as well as traditional Chinese medicine. By doing so, tourists will have more opportunities to feel the charm of Chinese culture, cultivate their tastes, enjoy their lives, and improve their health. 

Third, we will ensure the establishment of platforms and policies to serve the people better. We will strive for the construction of new brands, including the national pilot cities for cultural and tourism consumption, the national-level tourist resorts and 5A-level scenic areas, as well as the national-level pilot cultural and tourism night consumption clusters. We will help local governments create more consumption scenarios and foster new forms and models of consumer spending. More policies to benefit the people will be put in place, and actions to provide financial support for cultural and tourism consumption will be implemented in around a hundred of cities and areas. We will continue to hold national activities to promote cultural and tourism consumption and strengthen promotions and marketing so as to stimulate people's willingness to spend on cultural and tourism products, which will ultimately boost market entities' recovery and development. Thank you.