On Saturday May 30th at the French Tennis Open, the Beijing Municipal Commission of Tourism Development unveiled its first tourism package, “Enjoy the China Open, Visit Beijing”, or how to combine sport and visits to the cultural sites of Beijing. This comprehensive package includes three days of guided visits to the city’s most beautiful tourist sites, as well as three days to experience the China Open, featuring the world’s top players. With a host of options, the package will meet the needs of sports fans and cultural travel enthusiasts alike.
This exclusive package comprises a joint offer by the Beijing Municipal Commission of Tourism Development and the China Open. It will include several visits to key tourist attractions in the city, such as Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City and even the Great Wall of China. At the same time, travellers will also be able to take advantage of 3 days courtside, at the China Open, a WTA premier mandatory event and an ATP 500 event, which is the biggest international competition in Asia.
Primarily intended for sports fans, the package will also appeal to travellers who want to discover the modern and classical aspects of a culturally rich city.
M. Zhao Guang-Chao, Vice-Chairman of Beijing Municipal Commission of Tourism Development: “With this package, we are seeking to strengthen sports tourism in a capital with a 3,000-year history, which organises numerous international sporting events, such as: the China Tennis Open, the Beijing International Marathon, the Snooker Open or the Beijing International Mountain Walking Festival, to name but a few. Since the Beijing Olympics in 2008, sports tourism has taken off in China: we hope to take it up to another level by hosting further major sporting events, while offering attractive tourist packages for travellers from all over the world. This is why it is so important for us to unveil this package for the first time at an international tournament as prestigious as the French Open. We would like to thank Mr. Jérémy Botton, Deputy CEO of the French Tennis Federation for welcoming us today to present this new package, put together especially for tennis fans the world over”.
Ms. Wu Peihua, Chairman of China Open: “We are delighted with this new package which we are sure will appeal to all tennis fans, who will be keen to come to Beijing to attend one of the biggest tournaments in the world. This stage of the international circuit is honoured to welcome the world’s top tennis stars, as well as the future stars. With this package, you can experience the thrill of our tournament and at the same time visit a city which is one of a kind: Beijing”.
Sania Mirza, professional tennis player, double ranking n°1 player, three time Grand Slam Champion and former China Open Champion 2013 also attended the presentation: "The city of Beijing is amazing, with so much architecture and history. Everytime I go there for the China Open, I took time to discover the city and its attractions, like the Great Wall. And it’s a great experience, I would recommend this city to everyone. China is the future!”
Original title by travelnewsasia.com: Beijing Commission of Tourism launches