China´s new national tourism strategy- ‘The Outline for National Tourism and Leisure (2013-2020)’
Madrid : ‘The Outline for National Tourism and Leisure (2013-2020)’, recently issued by the government of China, sets the ground for the redefinition of tourism development and management in the country, including a strong support for outbound tourism as well as a focus on a greater distribution of the economic, socio-cultural and environmental benefits of tourism.
The Outline for National Tourism and Leisure (2013-2020), issued by the State Council of China, focuses on promoting the taking of paid annual leave days and boosting the healthy development of the tourism sector in China, in particular by ensuring the coordination of different sectors.
Where previously cultural norms have stopped many in China from taking an annual leave, the Outline, which reinforces existing Regulations for Paid Annual Leave for Employees, encourages government agencies, social organizations, enterprises and public institutions to promote the use of leave days, giving moreover Chinese workers more freedom and flexibility on the issue of where and when to travel.
“The successful implementation of the new Chinese national tourism strategy will surely impulse both domestic and outbound tourism in China and we particularly welcome the decision to promote travelling at different times of the year” said UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai. “This document calls on a variety of sectors to strategically consider their actions in view of the development of tourism; it is another proof that China fully understands that sustainable tourism growth requires cross-cutting policies at a national level”, he added.
The Outline, advocated for a long time by the China National Tourism Administration (CNTA), comes four years after the tourism sector in China was acknowledged as a ‘pillar’ industry of modern services and one of the major social and economic sectors on the government´s agenda.
The outline, which China National Tourism Administration (CNTA) has been advocating for a long time, was developed on the basis of The Opinions of the State Council on Speeding up the Development of the Tourism Industry (Guofa, 2009, No.41) to meet, as it says, ¨the people´s growing needs in tourism and leisure, [as well as to] promote the healthy development of the tourism and leisure industry, and build a Chinese-style national tourism and leisure system.¨
The outline´s focus on promoting the taking of paid annual leave days and boosting the healthy development of the tourism and leisure industry in China is strongly aligned with UNWTO´s historical document, the Tourism Bill of Rights, released in 1985 as well as the UNWTO’s Global Code of Ethics for Tourism, adopted by the United Nations in 2001. – UNWTO
