Growth is tourism industry's destination

As traveler numbers grow, sector targets benefiting communities and more inbound visitors, Xu Lin reports.

A walk along Wukang and Anfu roads in Shanghai's Xuhui district offers a glimpse of the city's culture and landscape. The combination of historical architecture with well-designed cafes and shops draws numerous tourists, making it the trendiest place for a stroll.

This is no coincidence. Both the authorities and the community have cooperated to combine cultural preservation with contemporary vitality, striking a balance with tourism. This approach has also benefited residents by improving infrastructure and public services.

It's one of China's successful examples of developing communities through sustainable tourism, which was among the key topics at the World Tourism Alliance's Xianghu Dialogue 2024, recently held in Sanya, Hainan province, under the theme of "geared up for a new venture — the future is now".