Fans enjoy themselves at the National Tennis Center in Beijing during the China Open on October 1, 2024. Photo: VCG

Over the seven-day National Day holidays in China, ­various high-profile international sports events, such as the tennis China Open and the World Table Tennis (WTT) China Smash, have played a significant role in boosting economic growth and driving consumption.

The combination of competitions and tourism has stimulated demand across related consumption sectors such as hospitality, retail, transportation, and entertainment.

The ticket sales of the China Open held from September 23 to October 6 exceeded 80 million yuan ($11.4 million), setting a record for the event and representing a 60 percent increase compared to 2023, according to data shared during the event's press conference on Monday.

Top-tier players and intense competitions have fuelled strong demand for tickets to premier events. China's top tennis player and Olympic gold ­medalist Zheng Qinwen's star power was on full display in the success of the event.

"I traveled a long way from Henan by high-speed train just to watch Zheng's match, and it was absolutely worth it. I saw many others in the crowd who, like me, were drawn by her talent and enthusiasm, reigniting their passion for tennis," a spectator surnamed Xu from Central China's Henan Province told the Global Times on Monday.

According to official data from the China Open, on September 28 when Zheng played her first match, the venue saw a total of around 39,000 spectators, with over 12,000 attending the evening session at the Diamond Court of the National Tennis Center in Beijing, which had a 95 percent occupancy rate.

A spectator who watched Zheng's first match told the Global Times that she had not initially planned to purchase tickets for the match. However, her friends were super interested in seeing Zheng, so they ended up buying last-minute tickets the day before. 

"There were only 380-yuan tickets left for the seats at the upper section of the venue, and 10 minutes after we bought our tickets, they were completely sold out," she said.

The spotlight has now shifted to the Wuhan Open, scheduled to be held from October 5 to 13, in Central China's Hubei Province where cheers could be even louder for Zheng who trained as a junior there. The 22-year-old is expected to fight for maximum points to qualify for the WTA Finals. 

Spectators watch a soccer match in Rongjiang county, Southwest China's Guizhou Province on October 3, 2024. Photo: VCG

Promising path

Zou Xinxian, a professor at the Beijing Sport University, told the Xinhua News Agency that after 20 years of development, the China Open has established its own distinctive brand. She pointed out that Beijing is progressing toward becoming an international sports city, and the China Open is the result of continuous effort and innovation. 

Zou also said that the WTT event, as a top-tier international competition, demonstrates Beijing's leverage of Olympic legacies as a "dual Olympic city. "

She expressed hope that more international top-tier events will settle in Beijing, allowing spectators to have high-quality sporting experiences while also experiencing the unique culture of the city. This combination of "sports + tourism" offers a promising path to enhancing Beijing's city image and boosting its economic growth.

The WTT China Smash, held from September 26 to October 6 at Beijing's Shougang Park in Shijingshan district, has generated nearly 60 million yuan in ticket sales, the Xinhua News Agency reported, with ticket prices ranging from 288 to 1,688 yuan. Daily visitor traffic at the park surged to around 70,000 passenger trips, highlighting the strong public interest in the event.

The Shijingshan district also benefitted from the event, recording over 700,000 passenger trips from October 1 to 5, with relevant tourism revenue up by 33 percent compared to the same period in 2023, according to the Xinhua News Agency.

In addition to ticket sales, the WTT event generated over 25 million yuan in revenue at Shougang Park during the National Day holidays, the Beijing Daily reported on Monday. 

Deepening friendship

Aside from the international sports events, multiple grassroots sports competitions also flourished across the country during the National Day holidays. 

Rongjiang county in Southwest ­China's Guizhou Province, which was known for its phenomenal Village Super League (VSL), hosted several international soccer friendly matches during the holidays. Ten foreign teams, featuring over 170 players from countries such as Argentina, Brazil, and Algeria, competed against local teams, exchanging skills and fostering camaraderie.

Co-organized by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the ­Argentine Embassy in China, the 2024 Discover China Cultural Tour of Guizhou for Diplomats event pitted a team composed of Latin American and Caribbean diplomats against a local VSL team.

Argentine Ambassador to China Marcelo Gabriel Suarez Salvia said that the match is a true bridge between cultures and a way to unite people from different parts of the world through a global passion like soccer. "I am convinced that, from this initiative mutual understanding of Guizhou will be increased in our region, leading to future opportunities in trade, tourism, and other fields," said the ambassador.

He Huan, director of the Rongjiang County Tourism Industry Development Service Center, told the CCTV News that from October 1 to 6, ­soccer matches and ethnic cultural performances were held every day during the holidays. It was estimated that by October 5 Rongjiang had welcomed 386,300 visitors, generating a total tourism revenue of 464 million yuan.