China tourism revenue to reach US $ 1 trillion in 2020, Govt. sets four major goals
BEIJING (Xinhua / CNTA) — China plans to raise tourism revenue to 7 trillion yuan (about 1 trillion U.S. dollars) by 2020, the Chinese government has said.
A State Council five-year tourism plan (2016-2020) says China will strive to develop tourism into a major driver for economic transformation and upgrades.
The sector made more than 4 trillion yuan last year.
By 2020, investment in tourism is expected to grow to 2 trillion yuan, and the sector will contribute more than 12 percent of GDP.
Travel agencies will be encouraged to sell more diverse products, such as countryside trips and tours of old revolutionary bases.
The quality of tourist destinations must be raised, partly through five tourist city clusters and 10 national tour belts. Public services for tourists will be improved, including transportation. Green tourism will also be promoted.
Inbound tourism will get stronger policy support and cooperation between the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan will be strengthened. The government also expects moderate growth in outbound travel.
The services sector made up a majority of economic growth in the first three quarters. Tourism will create jobs and help poverty alleviation in rural areas.
13th Five-Year Plan on Tourism Industry
The State Council has recently issued the 13th Five-Year Plan for the Development of the Tourism Industry which is signed and approved by Premier Li Keqiang. The Plan lays down the general approach, basic goals, key tasks and support measures to develop the tourism industry during the 13th Five-Year Plan period and is the action program and basic guideline for China’s tourism development for the next five years.
The Plan sets four major goals for tourism development in China during the 13th Five-Year Plan period. First, steady growth of the tourism economy. The number of travels made by urban and rural residents shall grow around 10% per year, the total tourism revenue by more than 11%, and the direct investment in tourism by more than 14%.
By 2020, the tourism market will grow to accommodate at least 6.7 billion travels, with the total tourism investment hitting RMB 2 trillion and the total tourism revenue RMB 7 trillion.
Second, significant increase in comprehensive benefits. The comprehensive contribution made by the tourism industry to the national economy shall exceed 12%.
Third, a higher degree of public satisfaction about the tourism industry. Tourist transportation shall be more convenient, public services for tourists more considerate, the paid-leave system promoted, the market order improved remarkably, the idea of civilized tourism deeply rooted and widely practiced, tourism environment more beautiful and the Toilet Revolution more fruitful.
Fourth, remarkable growth in international influence. The inbound tourism market shall continue to grow, the outbound tourism market maintain its healthy growth, and China’s gap with developed tourist destinations be narrowed significantly.
The government aims to strengthen the five cross-regional tourist city clusters, foster 20 cross-regional specialty tourism functional zones, build 10 national boutique tourism belts, develop 25 national scenic routes and promote the construction of specialty tourist destinations in eight major categories.
December 27,2016
