Changsha attracted 17.898 million domestic and overseas tourists in the first quarter of 2012, receiving a total revenue of 17.148 billion yuan, an increase of 23% and 25% respectively compared to the same period last year. With an increasing momentum, the inbound travel welcomed 225.3 thousand visitors, creating an income of 160.796 million USD, a year-on-year growth of 37.38% and 26.99% respectively.
The occupancy rate of star hotels here has ranked the first across the country for three consecutive years. Changsha's occupation percentage reached 79.22% on average, with an increase of 5% in its business revenue. Revenue from travel agencies saw a remarkable rise. During the Spring Festival, the city received a total of 1,381 thousand visitors, contributing a total of 1.13 billion yuan. Rural travel was well-received and achieved an income of 1.715 billion yuan.
The launch of nearly ten travel festivals facilitated the prosperity of travel. Among the passengers in high-speed railway on weekends, nearly 60% are to enjoy Changsha's firework display. The Famous Flowers Eco-Culture Festival held in the Hunan Provincial Botanical Garden attracted 250 thousand tourists to participate. The total revenue of Huitang Hot Spring Tourism Festival hit 54 million yuan.
Translator: Ma Huiqin
Source: Hunan Official Web Portal
