Beijing's 2015 tourism revenue hits 460 billion yuan

Autumn's colored leaves create a scenic scene at the Badaling Great Wall, Oct 31, 2015. [Photo/IC]

BEIJING - Beijing's tourism revenue in 2015 reached 460.7 billion yuan ($71 billion), a tourism official said on Friday.

The Chinese capital received a total of 273 million tourists last year, compared to 261 million in 2014, said Song Yu, director of the Beijing Municipal Commission of Tourism Development (BCTD), at a meeting.

Beijing adopted a tax rebate scheme for overseas visitors in July 2015 to boost consumption in the city. By the end of 2015, the city had sold tax refund commodities worth 22.3 million yuan with rebates of 2.45 million yuan, according to Song.

The commission will focus on improving services in eight major destinations, including the Great Wall, Tian'anmen Square and the Olympic Park in 2016.

To attract more overseas tourists and promote the consumption, the city will expand tax rebate scheme and maintain the 72-hour visa-free stay for international transit passengers, he said.