The first tourism charter flight from Wuhu to Ordos arrives on Aug 2. [Photo/Ordos Release]

The city of Ordos in North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region is seeing a gradual recovery in its culture and tourism market after being hit by COVID-19.

On Aug 2, flight KN5609 carrying 106 tourists from Wuhu city in East China's Anhui province arrived in Ordos, becoming the first tourism charter flight to arrive in the city since Inner Mongolia resumed cross-provincial travel.

Encouraging travel agencies to conduct charter travel businesses has proved to be an efficient way to boost the number of tourists and increase consumption.

According to the preferential policies issued by Ordos, each charter flight to Ordos with at least 100 tourists will be subsidized on the conditions that the tourists visit two national 4A-level or above tourist attractions in Ordos and stay in tourist hotels in the city for two nights.

Each domestic flight will be awarded 50,000 yuan ($7,501.88) and each international flight will be awarded 100,000 yuan.

Ordos plans to open flights to seven cities, including Wuhu, Shiyan, Rizhao and Hailar, for 61 days from Aug 1 to Sept 30, 2022. It is expected to operate 208 flights.

The flights are estimated to carry 54,000 tourists to Ordos if each flight's passenger load is calculated at 70 percent.