Vice Premier Says Tourism Is a New Economic Hot Spot

Qian Qichen, vice premier of the State Council at the National Tourism Work Conference held in Guilin recently on the good prospects for China's tourism industry, said that, in the last year, the industry had overcome the effects of such negative events as the Asian financial crisis to deep on increasing at a faster rate than that of the national economy, which was no mean achievement. It also indicated that tourism was a new economic hot spot.

The industry had advantage in terms of resources, and had a wide market. Developing tourism will benefit the environment, create more job opportunities and spur on other related industries.

He pointed out that tourism departments alone could not change the tourism resources advantages to economic advantages. Only with the support of governments at all levels could the industry develop greatly.

He positively appraised the activities of "China Top Tourist Cities" sponsored by the China National Tourism Administration in the past three years.

China's Tourism Industry Has Competitive Advantages

According to He Guangwei, Chairman of the China National Tourism Administration, after 20 years of development, the tourism industry has gained its position in the international market with some advantages in the severe competition. Domestic tourism demands are increasing, and the market is also very wide.

Speaking at the National Tourism Work Conference in Guilin, in early January, he said tourism was listed as a new economic hot spot for national development, with the current situation offering important opportunities.

In his report, he said that in 1998, China received 2.5 million overseas tourists, gained foreign currency of ¡ç12.5 billion (increases of 8.5 percent and 3.5 percent over 1997). Domestic tourists amounted to 659 million, generating income of 239 billion yuan, up 2.49 and 13.2 percent respectively. Total income from tourism reached 343 billion yuan, up 10.2 percent over 1997.

The naming ceremony for 54 top tourist cities elected last year was also held during the meeting.

Jilin Holds Ice & Snow Festival

On January 1, Changchun City, Jilin Province, staged the opening ceremony of the China Changchun Jingyuetan Ice & Snow Festival '99 and Jilin Ecotour'99 at the Changchun Jiyuetan Skiing Ground.

Jilin is a beautiful province with four distinct seasons. Every year, its ice and snow tour attracts a lot of overseas and domestic tourists. Along the Songhua River, tourists can see rimes, large-scale exhibitions of ice sculptures, and ice lanterns. All kinds of skiing grounds are available in Jilin, attracting many overseas tourists.

Sightseeing of Fishery in Fujian

Dongshan Island of Fujian is not only a famous fishing island, but also a beautiful area for tourism. It receives nearly one million tourists every year.

Taking a "water taxi", your can wander on the "sea field", see seagulls, seascapes, or climb all kinds of floating wooden cabins to watch the fishing nets being hauled in, and listen to fishing songs. These activities have attracted a lot of tourists. In addition, tourists can also go to beautiful beaches and see many abalone farms, as well as taste abalone dishes, or go fishing.