Qingdao is expected to receive over 140 million tourists throughout the year, with tourism revenue surpassing 210 billion yuan. [Photo/Dazhong News]

In the first three quarters of this year, the added value of the cultural and tourism industry in Qingdao reached 126.05 billion yuan ($17.31 billion), with a growth rate of 7.4 percent, exceeding the city's GDP growth rate by 1.8 percentage points.

The city is expected to receive over 140 million tourists throughout the year, with tourism revenue surpassing 210 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of over 13 percent. Qingdao has been selected as one of the top 10 most popular cities for inbound tourism during the summer and a popular destination for the National Day holiday.

The city has also been designated as the tourism and cultural capital of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization from 2024 to 2025, which has taken the city's tourism to new heights.

This year, Qingdao has been promoting the efficiency and benefits of maritime tourism. By adhering to comprehensive planning and coordinated advancement, the city has initiated the overall development plan for maritime tourism, constructed and upgraded two tourist terminals, opened three new maritime tourism routes, and commenced operations on the new maritime tourism route connecting the Qingdao Olympic Sailing Center, the Qingdao Underwater World, and the Qingdao Bay.

Efforts have also been made to enhance the quality of tourism services. Four attractions including Lingshan Island have successfully attained a 3A rating, two attractions have passed the evaluation for a 4A scenic spot, and the Qingdao Olympic Sailing and Marine Culture Tourist Area has been rated as a national 5A scenic spot.

In terms of inbound tourism services, all hotels, attractions, museums, and theaters in the city now have card readers accepting international cards. From January to October, Qingdao airport welcomed 349,800 inbound tourists, marking a 108.7 percent year-on-year increase.