Beijing Tourism Administration plans to reward travel agencies that invite foreign travel service providers and journalists to come on study tours to Beijing by offering them free hotel rooms and free admission to scenic spots such as the Bird's Nest and Water Cube.
BTA says that from April 1 to December 31, 2009, travel service providers that are formally registered in Beijing and that have passed their annual inspections will be given support such as reduced room rates and free admission to scenic spots if they invite foreign tourism professionals or media to come to visit Beijing. BTA says that it is doing this to revitalize the city's inbound travel market and promote its tourism resources.
The preferential policies are: invite a group of five to ten people, get two nights' free hotel accommodation; invite a group of 11 to 30 people, get three nights free hotel accommodation; invite more than 30 people, get four nights' free hotel room accommodation. In addition, they can visit the Bird's Nest, Water Cube, National Gymnasium, and the National Center for Performing Arts free of charge.
It is learned that in the first two months of this year, the number of inbound tourists for China declined by more than 20%.
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