Shiliuyun-Xinjiang Daily (Reporter Yao Gang) news: At the Xinjiang Culture and Tourism Industry Investment and Financing Conference held on October 28, 2025, data released by Ctrip Group showed that Xinjiang saw a 31.12 percent year-on-year increase in tourist arrivals from January to October this year, the highest growth rate in the country.

Photo taken on October 28, 2025 shows the venue of the Xinjiang Culture and Tourism Industry Investment and Financing Conference in Urumqi, northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Photo by Shiliuyun-Xinjiang Daily/Yao Gang)

Data from Ctrip shows that in the first ten months of this year, the tourism market in all 14 prefectures and cities of Xinjiang has seen strong growth, reflecting the vitality of the all-for-one tourism development. Among them, Urumqi, the Ili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture, and the Kashi Prefecture have the highest proportion of visitors. The Bortala Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture has seen a growth rate of over 80 percent in tourist arrivals. In terms of the source of visitors, the 80s and 90s generations are the main force in tourism consumption.

Data analysis shows that Guangdong, Beijing, Sichuan, Henan, and Shandong are the top five source markets for Xinjiang tourism. Visitors from Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Guangzhou, and Hangzhou have seen a significant increase in per capita consumption. Among the destination cities, Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture, Hami, Kashi, and Aksu have shown strong performance in attracting visitor consumption. For example, the amount of consumption attracted by Changji has increased by nearly 50 percent.

In terms of inbound tourism, visitors from Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Malaysia rank top three in the number of arrivals and consumption in Xinjiang. Countries in Southeast Asia and Central Asia have become important source markets for inbound tourism in Xinjiang. The top five destinations for inbound tourists are Sayram Lake, Tianshan Tianchi, the "World Ghost City" scenic spot, Narat grassland, and the Xiata scenic area. The most popular tour packages for inbound tourists are the "10-day, nine-night group tour of Urumqi + northern Xinjiang + Sayram Lake" and the "12-day, 11-night group tour of Urumqi + southern Xinjiang."

Zhang Xu, vice president of Ctrip Group, said that the data shows Xinjiang has made new progress in building a trillion-yuan industrial cluster. According to Zhang, these figures reveals four major trends in the development of Xinjiang's culture and tourism industry. From the demand side, tourists are shifting from "sightseeing" to "in-depth experiences," with the booking volume of intangible cultural heritage experience products doubling.

On the supply side, the integration of cultural IPs and strategic policies has significantly boosted industry transformation. Policies such as cross-border self-driving tours have provided robust support for the sector. New business models like self-driving tourism, immersive performances, and night-time tourism have emerged as key growth drivers. The all-season tourism model is now well-established, and the integration of culture and tourism with other sectors continues to expand. In terms of industrial layout, the comprehensive plan of "one core, three belts, four centers, and multiple nodes" is being progressively realized. Rural tourism, winter sports, and night-time economy are set to experience rapid growth, with their industrial spillover effects becoming increasingly significant.

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