Beijing’s tourist numbers continue to decline

Chinese capital; Beijing is attracting fewer tourists in first half of 2013 compared with this time last year. 

The decline started in 2012 when the city welcomed 5 million tourists, down 3.76 percent from 5.20 million in 2011.

The capital attracted 2.14 million tourists during the first six months of this year, a 14.3 percent decrease from the same period last year, according to the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Statistics.

Meanwhile, the capital city's tourist satisfaction index stood at 75.28 in the second quarter. This marked a drop from 80.97 in the first quarter, according to the China Tourism Academy.

The score was the lowest since the academy started the quarterly survey in 2009.

According to the news at Xinhuanet, services in many Chinese cities do not meet the standards of the West, scenic spots can be overcrowded, and a weak global economy has played a part in that.

The trend was partly because China was losing its attractiveness to overseas tourists amid rising costs, said Hu Jiying, a marketing manager at China CYTS Tours.
Source: Xinhuanet