Qingdao's beer festival, cruise experience attract overseas visitors

The month-long 36th Qingdao International Beer Festival and China's first "cruise beer festival" were held in Qingdao, Shandong province, in July, creating new attractions for inbound tourists through a combination of beer culture and coastal experiences.

Held on the cruise ship Dream, the 10-day "cruise beer festival", running from July 20 to 29, introduced a static cruise model and offered a port-based short-haul getaway with dining and entertainment. This innovative model removes the need for long-distance sailing, making cruise vacations accessible to more travelers.

Live performances and activities create a vibrant atmosphere at the 36th Qingdao International Beer Festival. [Photo/WeChat account: Friendly Shandong]

Attracted by the city's vibrant festivals and coastal charm, more overseas visitors are choosing Qingdao as a summer travel destination. As of now, Qingdao Jiaodong International Airport welcomed more than 374,000 inbound visitors, up 40.4 percent year-on-year.

Qingdao has also seen a notable surge in inbound travelers from key Southeast Asian markets this year, with visitors from Thailand and Malaysia soaring by over 700 percent and 250 percent year-on-year, respectively, while arrivals from Vietnam grew by an extraordinary 5,000 percent compared to the same period last year. Most of them are attracted by the city's coastal scenery, European-style architecture, local cuisine, and vibrant beer culture.

Visitors raise their glasses at the 36th Qingdao International Beer Festival. [Photo/WeChat account: gh_d6b3317f3dd3]

As Qingdao continues to enrich its tourism offerings and create more immersive travel experiences, the city is becoming an increasingly attractive destination for global visitors.

（chinadaily.com.cn）