Yunnan takes concrete measures to promote tourism recovery

At the beginning of 2022, as many as 12 local travel companies were subsidized by the Provincial Government of Yunnan with a total of 8.4 million yuan. This was part of the government plan to fight the COVID-19 pandemic while accelerating the recovery and upgrade of tourist industry.

Having provided high-quality packages of cultural tourism on a travel planning app named Go Yunnan is one feature shared by all these 12 companies.

Tourism is a leading industry in Yunnan province. Since the pandemic broke out, enterprises associated with travel and tourism – particularly those small and medium-sized ones across the province - have been facing unprecedented difficulties.

The provincial government, therefore, decides to take concrete measures to support tour agencies and companies financially, with an ultimate goal of restoring and upgrading Yunnan’s tourist industry in a long run.

According to the statistics of Yunnan Provincial Department of Finance, nearly 900 million yuan was employed to assist tourist enterprises to cope with the pandemic and develop smart tourism and all-for-one tourism in 2021.

Cultural and tourist products, in general, have been considered a pivot to help transform and upgrade the tourism of Yunnan in the past few years.

Since 2020, with a number of government subsidies being given, companies in the field have created brand new travel routes, services and cultural products that tourists had never seen before. In other words, cultural and tourist products are on the way to become a significant impetus for the province’s development of tourism.

Meanwhile, 278 hospitality enterprises across Yunnan have received subsidies since this year, with a total amount of 57.7 million yuan. It is expected that Yunnan’s hospitality industry can recover from the pandemic soon, and more hotel brands - both Chinese and foreign ones – will be seen in Yunnan, from relatively low-cost hostels and homestays to boutique hotels as well as hotel groups with international reputations.

This year, Yunnan province is determined to take concrete and effective measures to boost tourism recovery by offering more help to the enterprises and individuals being involved, and supporting the upgrade and normalization of tourist market.

According to the government plan mentioned above, as much as 1 billion yuan is estimated to be applied to the recovery and further development of Yunnan’s tourist industry.

Reporting by Kunming Daily; trans-editing by Wang Jingzhong; photographs from Xinhua