Jiangsu Province received over 35.1 million tourists during the Spring Festival holiday, up 3.06% year on year, and achieved the tourism revenue of 23.885 billion yuan, 85.1% percent of the level in 2019, according to the provincial Department of Culture and Tourism.

A Spring Festival cultural parade was held in Suzhou, Feb. 17, 2021. Photo/CFP

Over 300 A-level tourist attractions in the province opened for free and some scenic spots went further to offer free tours or discounted tickets specially for migrant workers who stayed put to help curb the possible COVID-19 spread. Such efforts also stimulated the spending in cultural and tourism sector.

Tourist attractions generally maintained strict measures to prevent and control COVID-19, putting a cap on the number of visitors daily and in the venue at around 75% of the normal capacity. Management was also improved as tourists were encouraged to make booking online prior to visiting.

One notable development this year was the increasing use of livestreaming of cultural events to reach more audiences, such as an acrobatic show and the annual Qinhuai Lantern Festival. People have enjoyed a broad range of online programs highlighting Jiangsu’s cultural and water-town charm, such as concert, dancing and intangible cultural heritage items, celebrating the Chinese New Year without leaving home.

Experts believe virtual tours will gain more attention amid the COVID-19 response and it’s necessary to combine tourism and culture programs with the Internet.

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