American rapper Kanye West set the Wuyuanhe Stadium in Haikou ablaze with a spectacular live show on Sunday, marking his triumphant return to the Chinese mainland after over a decade.
The concert, held on the first night of the three-day Mid-Autumn Festival holiday, attracted nearly 40,000 fans, igniting not only the stage but also the local tourism industry.
An astounding 95 percent of attendees traveled from outside Hainan island, with music enthusiasts from Shanghai, Guangdong Province, Zhejiang Province, Beijing, and even from Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan region, and abroad flocking to the capital city.
Haikou seized the opportunity, with hotels, scenic spots, restaurants, shopping malls, and retail stores offering over 100 discount services to maximize the economic benefits of the influx of visitors.
According to the municipal bureau of tourism, the city’s average hotel occupancy rate soared to over 83 percent on the first day of the holiday, a remarkable increase of 41.82 percent compared to last year.
It is estimated that the concert could generate approximately 373 million yuan (about $52.6 million) in total tourism revenue for Haikou.
Li Qi, a fan from Chengdu in southwest China, arrived in Haikou a day before the concert. “I’m going to buy some duty-free goods for my family,” she said excitedly, planning to spend her holiday exploring iconic tourist attractions, savoring local delicacies, and shopping at the duty-free stores.
“The show had a significant influence, bringing a large influx of tourists to Haikou,” said Lyu Xiaolei, deputy mayor of Haikou. “These visitors are engaged in duty-free shopping and various cultural and tourism activities, which will greatly boost Haikou’s holiday consumption.”
She added that the city aims to attract more international and domestic concerts in the future to build itself into an international city of performing arts.
Kanye West’s performance was not the only high-profile event during the holiday. Across China, concerts and music festivals featuring domestic and international stars drew large crowds, contributing to a nationwide surge in tourism and consumption.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
