Free Internet service in Beijing to boost tourism

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China will provide free Internet service at its major tourist attractions in the capital to boost tourism, a top official said today.

"Beijing will this year cover all its 211 A-class tourist attractions with free wireless broadband network," Lu Yong, the director of the Beijing Travel Committee, said here.

The committee announced a guideline on improving Beijing's tourism environment and public service over the next three years.

According to the guideline, a modern tourism and public service system will be established by the end of 2014, state- run Xinhua news agency reported. Beijing has already installed free wireless broadband services in six of its central business districts.

Lu said Beijing will also expand its tourism services to cover more areas. Beijing has witnessed a brisk tourism market over the years.

In 2011, Beijing registered a total of 214 million foreign and domestic tourists, up 16.4 per cent year-on-year, according to the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Statistics.

Tourism revenue also went up 16.2 per cent from a year ago to reach 321.6 billion yuan (USD 50.95 billion) in the same year.