Tourists take a hot air balloon ride to admire the enchanting scenery of Jinghong, Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, on Dec. 7.
Yunnan province saw a remarkable 168 percent increase in inbound overnight tourists last year, with nearly 3.9 million people staying in the region, provincial officials said.
The trend, called “traveling and residing in Yunnan,” has gained momentum, according to provincial governor Wang Yubo.
This year, the province aims to strengthen its reputation as an extended-stay destination, setting a target of attracting 6 million travelers, Wang said in a government work report presented at the annual meeting of the 14th session of the Yunnan Provincial People’s Congress. , which began on Saturday.
Travelers are defined as visitors from outside the province who stay in Yunnan for at least two weeks but less than a year. Their reasons for staying include tourism, recreation, healing, outdoor activities and remote work, with the majority coming from domestic regions.
Preliminary estimates indicate that in 2024, the number of travelers reached 3.89 million, an increase of 20.7% year-on-year.
Seniors have also started to show interest in Yunnan.
“Yunnan has become a popular destination for healthcare and elderly living,” said Zhu Zhiqiang, deputy of the provincial People’s Congress and chairman of Yunnan Phoenix Cultural Tourism Group Co.
Zhu said many elderly people from various regions across the country choose to immerse themselves in the “unique lifestyle of Yunnan.” His company is developing a cultural tourism project in Yuanmou County, Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture.
“In our project, visitors can rent apartments from 3,000 yuan ($410) per month, which includes three meals a day, free access to hot springs and free use of entertainment facilities,” said Zhu explained.
Local government officials said the average housing price in Yuanmou is around 4,000 yuan per square meter, with government subsidies available for buyers.
According to the county tourism and culture bureau, more than 90,000 people reside in Yuanmou, about half of the local permanent population.
Yunnan’s natural beauty, rich culture and pleasant climate continue to attract domestic and international visitors.
In November, the provincial department of culture and tourism, along with six other departments, launched a three-year action plan aimed at developing more than 3,000 key traveler-friendly villages by 2027.
The transformation of Tuguachong in the Malong district of Qujing serves as a model for this initiative. A local culture and tourism business has revitalized more than 120 unused houses in the village, adding amenities such as bookstores, cafes and arts spaces.
“Tuguachong’s new residents include self-media creators, artists, writers and yoga teachers, alongside members of the indigenous population,” said Wu Jing, vice mayor of Qujing and member of the Political Advisory Committee of the Chinese people of Yunnan province. Conference.
Qujing has adopted a market-driven approach to developing traveler villages, establishing mechanisms that benefit both farmers and businesses. Local villagers now have the opportunity to work in agricultural processing plants or start small businesses such as restaurants and stores, Wu said.
Qujing currently has six operational resort villages with occupancy rates of more than 90 percent and has identified an additional 331 villages with potential for tourism development. Efforts to integrate resources and develop traveler-friendly infrastructure are underway, according to Wu.
Contact the writers at zhangxiaomin@chinadaily.com.cn