Guideline to boost tourism numbers in designated areas

A State Council guideline to promote region-based tourism will see entire areas identified as tourism destinations with unified planning to develop the sector.

The document aims to advance the “tourism plus” program, which promotes industrial integration and explores new functions in region-based tourism. The region-based tourism model should feature diversity and environmental protection, it said.

The document will help develop an integrated, quality oriented and highly regulated tourism ecosystem that can generate maximum benefits.

The guideline emphasized endeavors to broaden tourism to other fields and industries, including integration with urban planning to build tourist towns. Tourism should also work with agriculture, forestry and technologies to develop sightseeing agricultural areas, forest parks and high-end healthcare tourism.

The document aims to explore cultural elements in tourism, improve the quality of traditionally-crafted art products and bring in new technologies for tourism products. According to the guideline, tourism areas are encouraged to enhance service quality, build high-quality branding and introduce smart services such as free Wi-Fi and online booking and payment.

In addition, public facilities should be enhanced. The guideline aims to accelerate the “toilet revolution” and improve the transportation network, consultation service centers in key areas such as traffic hubs and guideposts.