Inbound tourism surges on curiosity about evolving China

Wolfgang Georg Arlt, a tourism expert from Germany, made his first trip to Beijing in 1978.

"There was almost no light at night," recalled Arlt, who has over 50 years of expertise, both academically and in practice, in tourism and hospitality. In the years since, he has watched China's tourism infrastructure improve steadily year after year, with better facilities and services.

In early June, he returned to the Chinese capital for a summit hosted by the World Tourism Cities Federation. During his stay, he was struck again by what he saw. But this time, it was by the smart infrastructure, services powered by artificial intelligence, and the gleaming skyline.

"No one back then could have imagined such development," said Arlt, executive director of the Meaningful Tourism Centre, based in London and Kathmandu.

As China evolves into one of the world's leading travel destinations, Arlt has also noticed a shift in the preferences of foreign travelers. "Tourism used to be about sightseeing, taking photos and shopping. Now people want to learn something and experience something," he said.

Technology has removed many of the old travel barriers. Instant translation services on a smartphone, for instance, mean no one needs to fear getting lost anymore, he added.