April 8, 2009: According to Chinese media, 186 Chinese cities will initiate a campaign on April 11, 2009, to jointly promote domestic travel.
It is understood that six cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Xi´an, will be the main venues for the promotion.
Shao Qiwei, the director of the China National Tourism Administration, disclosed that due to the slowdown of the world economy, many cities are suffering from declining inbound tourism. Shao said that from December 2008 to February 2009, the room occupancy of four-star and above hotels was only about 50%, and although the room occupancy of high star-rated hotels in Shanghai and Guangzhou rose after the Chinese Spring Festival, those of other cities are still declining.
Apart from joining the national campaign, Shanghai will grant signs to 44 Shanghai Expo themed sites in 16 cities in the Yangtze River Delta region. It will also cooperate with other cities to launch a variety of Shanghai Expo themed travel products such as World Expo China Travel and Trips to the ancient Grand Canal.
