Xiamen tourism industry generates $14b in first three quarters

The tourism industry in Xiamen generates 100 billion yuan ($14.4 billion) in the first three quarters of this year, up by 19.56 percent year-on-year. [Photo/xmnn.cn]

The tourism industry in Xiamen generated 100 billion yuan ($14.4 billion) in the first three quarters of this year, up by 19.56 percent year-on-year, according to official data released recently.

In the first nine months, the city welcomed more than 66 million tourists, an increase of 13.52 percent year-on-year, and per capita spending grew 5.3 percent year-on-year to 1,517 yuan, according to the Xiamen Municipal Tourism Development Commission.

Among them, more than 20.5 million visitors stayed overnight in Xiamen and 980,000 visitors were from other countries, 17.89 percent and 16.34 percent higher than a year ago.

The city also ranked in the top three among popular tourism destinations in China during main holidays in the January-September period.

Analysis shows that Guangdong, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Jiangxi and Shanghai are Xiamen's main tourist sources and admiring the seascape, feeling the sea breeze and enjoying seafood were their favourite things to do.