Chongqing - In terms of international arrivals in Southwest China's Chongqing in the first half, Thailand, Singapore, and Japan were the top three countries, according to a report on the city's culture and tourism consumption.

On June 10th, the 2023 Smart Cultural and Tourism Innovation Development Forum was held at Chongqing Normal University(CNU). During the forum, CNU and Ctrip Group jointly released the 2023 Chongqing Cultural and Tourism Consumption Data Report, which revealed key insights into the tourism landscape in Chongqing during the first half of 2023. 

The report highlighted that the majority of online tourists visiting Chongqing were from Sichuan Province, with the highest representation among those born in the 1990s and a higher proportion of male visitors.

Online tourism refers to researching and booking travel products through the Internet. According to the report, aside from local tourists, the top three regions of online tourists visiting Chongqing were Sichuan, Guangdong, and Shanghai.

The report revealed that the largest online tourists visiting Chongqing were born in the 1990s, accounting for 32.51% of the total, followed by those born in the 1980s at 25.25%. Male visitors accounted for 57.11% of the total, outnumbering female visitors.

Regarding the most popular tourist destinations among online tourists in Chongqing, Yubei District ranked first, followed by Yuzhong District and Shapingba District. Yubei District also ranked first in average tourism expenditure per person, with an average spending of 332 yuan.

Regarding the popularity of tourist attractions in Chongqing, the Yangtze River Cableway attracted the most visitors, accounting for 22.79% of the total. Chongqing Zoo, Chongqing Happy Valley, and Wulong Three Natural Bridges followed it.

The 2023 Smart Cultural and Tourism Innovation Development Forum was jointly organized by CNU, Chongqing Modern Smart Tourism Industry Institute, Ctrip Group, Chongqing Cultural and Tourism Information Center, and Chongqing Cultural and Tourism Association. Focusing on the theme of the "Bayu Cultural Corridor" construction, the forum aimed to promote scientific research on smart tourism leading to the development of the cultural and tourism industry. Some experts and scholars from across the country were invited to share their insights and knowledge.

During the forum, Intelligent Tourism Data Research Institute, jointly established by CNU and Ctrip Group, was officially launched at the forum. The research institute will engage in cutting-edge scientific research and practical cultural and tourism data applications, regularly releasing industry-related reports. It aims to create a leading domestic think tank in the cultural and tourism field, providing scientific support and intellectual resources to promote the high-quality development of Chongqing's cultural and tourism industry and create a high-quality living environment.

(Yang Yuanchun, as an intern, also contributed to the report.)