TV drama boosts tourism in Xinjiang

ALTAY CITY: A new TV drama “To the Wonder” has added popularity to Altay in northwest China’s Xinjiang and boosts tourism there, attracting young people with its breathtaking landscape and local people’s heartwarming hospitality.

Adapted from an award-winning essay collection “My Altay” by Chinese writer Li Juan, the eight-episode TV drama is set in the pristine Altay region, blending light comedy with narratives of local herders’ life, people’s relationship with nature, and individuals’ self-discovery. And it has successfully made Altay one of the top-tier tourism destinations among young people.

Rock royalty: Jon Bon Jovi’s son marries Millie Bobby Brown

“We are eager to come here just after we watched ‘To the Wonder.’ And picturesque scenery in Altay is so soothing,” said Shi Chenchen, a tourist from Beijing.

The data show that since the TV drama was aired, the search popularity of Altay has soared by six folds, and the travel booking volume of holiday products in Altay has increased by 370 percent month on month.

“In previous years, our peak tourist season in Altay may starts from middle and late June and last to October. Since this TV drama made a hit in May, we in Altay have received about 2.67 million tourists, up 80 percent year on year, and with a tourism revenue of 2.2 billion yuan (about 310 million U.S. dollars), up 93 percent year on year,” said Delda Naby, director of the Altay Culture and Tourism Bureau.

Warner Bros finally released MultiVersus, a free crossover fighter game

The local culture and tourism departments have turned out four themed tourist routes related to the TV drama.

Orteke, a Kazakh folk performing art form that combines theater, music, and puppetry presented in the TV drama, is also attracting droves of tourists.

“I think it’s just amazing, fascinating, fresh and a very good cultural performance,” said Dang Zhanhong, a tourist from northwest China’s Gansu Province.

In order to cope with the hot tourism season that comes ahead of the usual schedule, the local culture and tourism authorities have strengthened the supervision of hotels and homestays, to guarantee the quality of services.

Robert De Niro clashes with Trump supporters outside money hush trial

“There are some 2,290 hotels and over 800 homestays in our region. As long as online bookings of hotels and homestays are made in advance, they will be no problem. We also enhance the oversight of hotel prices. In case of any price gouging or in case the quality fails to be up to the set price, everyone could file a complaint,” said Naby.