Innovative tourism drives growth: Taoyuan River Scenic Area's success story

This year, the Taoyuan River Scenic Area Party Branch of the State-owned Guiyang Industrial Development Holding Group has focused on an integrated "scenic area + hotel" management model to build the "Fun Taoyuan" cultural tourism brand, leading to remarkable results.

While the flagship product, magical rafting, accounted for 90 percent of revenue in the past, its weather dependence has posed challenges. In response, the scenic area upgraded its hot spring facilities, attracting 23,000 visitors since May 1 and generating 3.1 million yuan ($428,380) in revenue – a 500-percent year-on-year increase.

To further enhance the visitor experience, the branch analyzed over 2,000 pieces of feedback and implemented 14 standardized improvement projects. These efforts introduced new attractions, such as family-friendly activities, mountain experiences, and leisure offerings, resulting in a year-round tourism model: flower viewing in spring, rafting in summer, fruit picking in autumn, and hot springs in winter.

The strategy has paid off. The scenic area has welcomed over 300,000 visitors so far this year, with revenue reaching 30.57 million yuan – increases of 80 and 100 percent, respectively, over last year. Recognized at the Guizhou provincial and Guiyang municipal levels, the project successfully secured funding from the Guizhou Cultural Tourism Fund.

Moving forwards, the branch aims to create a national-level vacation destination integrating wellness, sports, agriculture, culture, and tourism, contributing to the city's high-quality cultural tourism development.