Shanghai's boomtown becomes tourist destination

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 ◆ Shanghai's boomtown becomes tourist destination

The Oriental Pearl TV Tower, Shanghai Science and Technology Museum, Jinmao Plaza and Shiji (Century) Boulevard all add to the splendor of Shanghai's Pudong New District that has drawn visitors from around the world.

Latest statistics show that Pudong received 7.34 million visitors in the first half of this year, including 180,000 from overseas, 62 and 48 percent more than the same period last year, respectively.

The income from tourism topped 1.5 billion yuan (180 million USdollars), a rise of 29 percent on a yearly basis. The occupancy rate of over 60 luxury hotels reached 72 percent on average, 9.4 percent higher than same period last year. The growing occupancy rate was the result of a 15 percent rise in the number of guest rooms in the area in the January-June period.

Ashley W. Esarey, a visitor from New York, cited Pudong as a window through which an outsider can witness tremendous changes taking place in Shanghai, saying the stylish Lujiazui banking and trade zone that are matchable with Manhattan in New York.

The Oriental Pearl TV Tower in Lujiazui area has attracted 13.5 million visitors since it opened to visitors six years ago.

The booming conference and exhibition industry is also one of the major factors behind the rapid growth of Pudong's tourism industry. Many conference and exhibition venues now constitute part of the tourist trail.

Statistics show the Pudong new area hosted 407 international and regional conferences in the first six months of the year, a 53 percent jump. The conferences accommodated a total of 72,000 people, a rise of 125 percent over the same 2001 period.

Moreover, Pudong last year hosted 102 international conferences and 21 large exhibitions, attracting 12.1 million visitors from both at home and abroad, and bringing to Pudong over 2.5 billion yuan (3 billion US dollars) in tourism income.

The tourist industry has accelerated the development of the hotel and catering businesses in Pudong, which is dotted with more than 60 luxury hotels, including seven four-star and seven five-star hotels, and over 2,700 restaurants.