China tourism
Tourism off-peak season in China usually occurs from November to March, and tourist spots in the country are set to lower their ticket price during this period, China Daily reported.
During the low season, ticket prices will have an average of 20- to 30-percent decrease compared with the peak season. Other major tourist spots even offer over 50-percent decrease.
From Nov. 1, the Palace Museum in Beijing will drop its admission ticket price from 60 yuan ($9.81) to 40 yuan ($6.54).
On the same day in southwest China, both the Potala Palace and Lake Namtso in Tibet autonomous region will drop their ticket prices 50 percent lower from 200 yuan ($32.71) and 120 yaun ($19.62) to 100 yuan ($16.35) and 60 yuan ($9.81), respectively.
Also in southwest China, Daocheng Yading in Sichuan Province will drop its ticket price from 150 yuan ($24.53) to 80 yuan ($13.08).
Other tourist spots will drop their ticket prices in the middle of November.
From Nov. 15, Kanas Lake in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region in northwest China will offer free admission compared and drop their regular 150 yuan ($24.53) ticket price. The following day, Sichuan Province's Jiuzhaigou Valley will drop its price from 260 yuan ($42.51) to 80 yuan ($13.08).
According to travel agencies, tourists can save as much as 50 percent of the peak-season budget for transportation and accommodation.
Meanwhile, China's Director of National Tourism Administration Shao Qiwei proposed to increase direct flights and expedite visa applications with the United States as part of the plan to strengthen tourism ties between the two countries, China Central Television reported.
"Chinese tourists spent a total of $9.8 billion. This accounted for one-third of U.S. service exports to China. U.S. tourists spend an average of $3,036, bringing a total of $6.3 billion in 2013," Shao revealed.
There is an ongoing dialogue between the state and provincial tourism bureaus of the two countries in Fu Jian Province's coastal city of Xiamen in south China.
