Homestay business boosts tourism in rural Chun'an

A B&B at Qiandao Lake Scenic Area, Chun'an county of Hangzhou, Zhejiang province [Photo/Chun'an Fabu WeChat]

Chun'an county, home of the renowned Qiandao Lake in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province is reaping benefits from the booming homestay tourism industry, according to the local tourism commission.

As of mid-December, the county had received 2.11 million overnight visitors, generating revenue of 304 million yuan ($0.44 million), a year-on-year increase of 22.92 and 31.58 percent respectively. The consumption income driven by the homestay business accounted for 40.18 percent of the total rural tourism economy of the county.

Bed and breakfast facilities, with their diversified services, clean environment and humanized experience, are becoming increasingly popular in the Yangtze River Delta.

Xiajiang village, previously an agricultural backwater in Chun'an county, is an example of becoming prosperous through environmental protection and the development of rural tourism. Now, the riverside village is witnessing waves of tourists who are eager to experience rural life during the holidays. Official figures show that since the beginning of this year, over 100,000 people visited the village and neighboring areas.

The homestay business also creates numerous job opportunities for local youth, with around 5,000 people being employed at more than a thousand homestays.

According to official statistics, income from agricultural products driven by homestay businesses reached 346 million yuan since the beginning of the year, making homestays a pillar industry for rural tourism and a driver of the local economy.