In 2024, North China's Shanxi province implemented measures to boost its cultural and tourism industry, enhancing the "Satisfactory Tourism in Shanxi" brand.

In the first 11 months, 66 key monitored scenic spots in the province received a total of 98.64 million visits, a 20 percent increase year over year. The total operating income was 5.25 billion yuan ($716 million), an increase of 10 percent.

Last year, Shanxi focused on creating popular tourist gateways and renowned tourist cities, counties, and towns. Taiyuan ranked among the top provincial capitals for inbound tourism growth, while Datong and Jincheng were honored among "China's Top 20 Cities for Sustainable Development in the Wellness Industry".

Significant progress was also made in enhancing the province's tourism infrastructure. By promoting the integration of transportation and tourism, three main tourist highways were completed, along with service areas, post stations, and self-driving camping sites.

The province installed 8,934 POS machines for foreign bank cards and 46 foreign currency exchange ATMs in tourism sites, significantly enhancing the convenience of inbound tourist payment services.

Shanxi improved the quality of dining and accommodation services to cater to diverse visitor demands. It created a variety of popular Shanxi delicacies and formed a lodging system featuring premium hotels, themed hotels, and mid-to-high-end tourist accommodations.

Looking ahead, the province will focus on promoting high-quality development in the cultural and tourism industries, continuing to enhance the "Satisfactory Tourism in Shanxi" brand, and nurturing and expanding cultural tourism's strategic pillar industries.