Forum explores future of rural tourism

Regarding the future development of rural tourism, Zeng Bowei, director of China Tourism Economy and Policy Research Center of Beijing Union University, argues that rural tourism will be a very promising sector.

He points out that rural tourism is more resilient compared with other travel genres. With the number of urban dwellers gradually increasing in China, people tend to take more “ micro holidays” to villages near the city, and travel products are more diverse than ever, as besides sightseeing, travelers now can have a rich experience in rural areas including camping, outdoor sports and enjoying local folk culture.

Rural tourism is now witnessing an unprecedented boom in China. According to Trip.com, one of the world's largest online travel agencies, by March 2021, rural tourism trips in China had increased by more than 300 percent year-on-year.