Group 1: Tourism Statistics - The total number of tourists received in Beijing reached 2.17 million, a year-on-year increase of 2.7% [1] - Total tourism expenditure amounted to 3.76 billion yuan, reflecting a year-on-year growth of 3.9% [1] - The number of inbound tourists was 15,000, showing a significant year-on-year increase of 37.1%, with their expenditure reaching 160 million yuan, up 51.8% [1] Group 2: Cultural and Tourism Activities - Beijing's cultural and tourism bureau organized a series of international cultural tourism activities during the Spring Festival, promoting inbound tourism with five major lists and ten premium travel routes [1] - The "Spring Festival Cultural Exchange Activities" were held in eight countries, including the USA and Australia, featuring various cultural showcases and promoting Beijing's tourism policies [2] - A welcoming ceremony for foreign travelers was held at Heathrow Airport, providing them with New Year gifts and promoting cultural exchange between China and the UK [3] Group 3: International Collaboration - A "Moscow Sends Winter Festival" event was held in Beijing, showcasing Russian traditional spring celebrations and enhancing cultural ties between the two capitals [4] - The event featured various cultural elements, including music, food, and crafts, allowing visitors to experience Russian culture and fostering mutual cultural exchange [4]

Group 1 - The core event is a warm send-off ceremony held at London Heathrow Airport for travelers on Air China's CA938 flight, organized by Beijing's Culture and Tourism Bureau in collaboration with the Chinese Embassy in London and other partners, to celebrate the upcoming Lunar New Year [1] - On February 16, the flight successfully arrived at Beijing Capital Airport, where welcoming activities were conducted, providing foreign visitors with a New Year gift package that includes tickets to the Spring Festival Temple Fair, Peking Opera, a one-day tour of Beijing, and a Peking Duck meal, enhancing the festive atmosphere for international guests [1] - This "send-off and welcome" initiative aims to implement the consensus between Chinese and British leaders, deepen bilateral cultural exchanges, and promote emotional connections between the peoples of China and the UK [1] Group 2 - In 2025, the number of British tourists visiting Beijing reached 117,500, making the UK one of the top source countries for inbound tourism to Beijing [3] - Starting from February 17, 2026, China will implement a visa exemption policy for ordinary passport holders from Canada and the UK, allowing them to enter China for business, tourism, family visits, exchanges, and transit for up to 30 days without a visa [3] - The introduction of the visa exemption policy is expected to significantly lower the travel barriers for British tourists to Beijing, potentially leading to a historic increase in the number of UK visitors and injecting stronger momentum into Sino-British cultural exchanges [3]