Hebei province is transforming its approach to welcome international tourists with a comprehensive service upgrade plan to position itself as a must-visit destination in China.

The move comes as part of the province's broader efforts to enhance the quality and accessibility of travel experiences for visitors from abroad.

On Tuesday, the "2025 Hello! Hebei" Exchange and Dialogue on Renewing Inbound Tourism Services in Hebei event, jointly organized by the China Tourism Academy and the Hebei Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, took place in the province's Xingtai city.

Xingtai is the main host of this year's Hebei Provincial Tourism Industry Development Conference, which will be held throughout this month across the province.

The event in Xingtai brought together nearly 200 participants, including international diplomats, tourism representatives from key markets, and industry experts, to discuss strategies for elevating Hebei's inbound tourism services.

A key highlight was the release of eight innovative travel routes designed to showcase Hebei's diverse cultural and natural assets. These include the Great Wall Exploration Tour, which connects Shanhaiguan Pass in Qinhuangdao of Hebei to Jiayuguan Pass in Gansu province, and the Jing-Ji (Beijing-Hebei) Three Kingdoms Culture Tour. Other routes feature wine tasting in Huailai of Zhangjiakou, golf leisure in Shijiazhuang, and industrial tourism in Xingtai, where visitors can explore modern manufacturing sites alongside ancient temples.

Hebei aims to leverage its proximity to Beijing and Tianjin to attract more global visitors. "For Hebei, proximity to Beijing is not just geographical but also signifies a radiating source of market demand," said Dai Bin, director of the China Tourism Academy, in a speech at the event.

According to Dai, monitoring data shows that in 2024, four of the top 20 travel routes taken by foreign tourists entering Beijing extended to Hebei.

Hebei can develop themed tourism routes around Beijing and Tianjin, establish thematic leisure resorts, and proactively accommodate the overflow of tourists from Beijing, he added.