China is the third major tourist destination for travelers – next to France and the U.S. During this time of the year, the Chinese data points are normally skewing upwards in at least absolute numbers -- more houses, cars and factories -- but arrivals from all their regions have noticeably diminished. The arrivals plummeted by five percent just below 13 million up to June 30 of this year.
What could be the reason for such drop? There are a lot, actually.
Air pollution in January that hurt the eyes of people all over China is one of the reasons. Another is the worldwide exposure of the bird flu virus H7N9 and the sighting of floating lifeless pigs in Shanghai's Huangpu River. However, the main factor is most likely to have been the “Airpocalypse.” This thing smothered many of the people in northern China in January, the period wherein travelers are visiting China for spring and summer holidays. According to an official data cited by the Associated Press, foreign travelers entering Beijing dropped by 15 percent over this time.
On a positive note, domestic tourism in China is flourishing, so a drop in the number of incoming foreign visitors may not be that devastating, really. Though most Chinese love traveling overseas for a holiday spree in record numbers, most of them still prefer to spend their holiday vacations in their homeland. The must-see spots will surely continue to experience foot traffic, even on misty days.
On the other hand, it still can't deny the reality that the "airpocalypse" or crazy air pollution is a turnoff for foreign travelers. It also keeps away business investors which is not favorable during a time of sluggish growth of economy and unease over regulatory crackdowns. And this might be a gauge of the decreasing entice of China’s economy.
These events might also be an important reminder that this is the revenge of the environment, being stressed out and so exhausted with all the abuse it has been receiving from man.
