Wuxi looks to "all-for-one tourism" to increase incomes

Officials from Wuxi municipal government speak at a conference on developing a demonstration area for "all-for-one tourism" in Wuxi, Jiangsu province on Oct 11. [Photo/news.thmz.com]

Wuxi government hosted a conference on building a demonstration area for "all-for-one tourism" on Oct 11.

The city in Jiangsu province has been one of the most successful places in China in attracting tourists over the last five years.

An estimated 86 million people visited Wuxi in 2016, a 48 percent increase on 2011, according to government statistics.

The city's tourism revenue has also risen more than 10 percent year-on-year every year since 2011, a feat few other Chinese cities have been able to match.

The government hopes to sustain this remarkable record by focusing on developing "all-for-one tourism destinations".

This new strategy will place less importance on generating revenue through ticket sales for entry to tourism attractions, which up to now has been the focus of most tourism operators in the city, and instead generate revenue through other channels.

Wuxi will instead focus on improving transportation infrastructure, digital infrastructure, and facilities inside scenic spots and roadside accommodation, according to officials at the conference.

The city also plans to encourage the trend for rural tourism, which has already helped lift many of Wuxi's rural residents out of poverty.

More than 1.8 million tourists visited Yangshan Peach Town in Huishan district in 2016, which has helped raise the average income of local residents to over 30,000 yuan per year ($4,500).

Wuxi government also aims to harness the city's growing tourism industry to drive local entrepreneurship and innovation.

Officials at the conference stated that the government would improve policy incentives, build public service platforms, strengthen vocational education and training and provide a better environment for more people to develop new tourist products and services in Wuxi.

Another focus of policy will be "tourism plus", China's drive to stimulate innovation in traditional industries such as tourism through the integration of cutting-edge new digital technology.

The government will also prioritize the development of industrial tourism, cultural tourism, health tourism, and tourism targeting senior citizens.