Beyond Mount Tai: Tai'an's way to develop culture, tourism

A report on Tai'an city's cultural and tourism integrated development index will be officially released at the 2023 Boao Forum for Entrepreneurs, which will be held in Boao, Hainan from Dec 2 to 5.

As of November, the number of tourists visiting Mount Tai in Tai'an had exceeded 8 million, an increase of 121.96 percent compared to the same period in 2019.

Mount Tai has helped attract a huge influx of tourists to Tai'an. Thus, Tai'an has gradually integrated high-quality cultural and tourism elements, designed 10 routes for trial operation, and stimulated the flow of tourists to 18 hot scenic spots by selling package tickets that include Mount Tai.

Tai'an has been bolstering efforts to build a modern cultural and tourism industry system with core competitiveness, and to drive high-quality development through the integration of culture and tourism. In addition, local tourism authorities have launched 10 incentive policies focusing on improving industrial quality, expanding the cultural and tourism market, and promoting consumer spending in the cultural and tourism market.

According to official statistics, the cultural and tourism industries in Tai'an achieved an added value of 22.93 billion yuan ($3.22 billion), accounting for 9 percent of the city's total GDP, in the first three quarters of this year. The added value of the cultural industry reached 9.59 billion yuan, and that of the tourism industry reached 13.34 billion yuan.