Beijing targets US basketball fans

"I believe the combination of tourism and sports is a future trend. I hope some tourists will visit Beijing especially for these sporting events," Wang says.

Wang says he thinks more tourism and sporting itineraries should be promoted. For example, most trips to the Great Wall are done in one day. In the future, tourists may have the opportunity to climb the Great Wall in different areas.

The US contributes the biggest percentage - more than 15 percent of Beijing's inbound tourism market with an annual visitation of more than 700,000.

"Cultural differences among foreign guests differ. For example, some US tourists come to Beijing for business trips and international academic conferences," Wang says.

She says the second biggest market is Russia. Russians like to visit places different from their country, so their favorite destinations are southern China, such as Sanya, Hainan province.

For those who only stay in Beijing for three days, top destinations are places of historical significance, such as the Forbidden City. If it's not the first time for the visitor, they tend to go to modern places such as Sanlitun and the 798 art zone.

Most visitors choose to fly between China and the US, but Wang says flights are not suitable for elderly people and people in poor health. She says cruise trips to the US are very promising, as long as the price is reasonable and the service is good.

According to Wang, to better serve overseas visitors, the commission plans to open direct buses from Beijing Capital International Airport to hotels and scenic spots and improve the service of foreign cuisines.

Wang says the commission is researching the possibility of a tax refund program that allows foreign visitors to claim tax refunds while shopping to encourage them to buy more Chinese products.

On Jan 1, 2013, Beijing approved a 72-hour visa waiver for tourists from 45 countries to attract more international visitors. This January, Beijing Capital International Airport received 1,746 transit passengers who benefited from the policy, with an increase of 184.8 percent compared with last January. "We have to learn from other cities such as Seoul, to offer various tourism products and services at the airport for transit passengers," Wang says.