Nation Seeks Foreign Funds to Develop Tourism Industry

Liaoning Province: China will speed up the development of tourism and attract more foreign funds to the industry in the new century, vowed a senior official from National Tourism Bureau recently.

Zhang Xiqin, vice-director of the bureau, made the remark during the 2000 China Resorts and Scenic Spots Fair, which opened on Thursday in Dalian, a coastal city in Northeast China's Liaoning Province.

Sponsored by the bureau and Dalian municipal government, the four-day fair is expected to receive more than 1,000 enterprises and over 50,000 business people from all the provinces and regions of the nation.

According to Zhang, tourism in China has made great progress since 1978 when the nation began to carry out the opening policy.

Official statistics from the bureau show the income from the tourism industry increased to US$14.1 billion, 54 times more than in 1978.

And the foreign exchange earnings in this area is ranked seventh in the world, he added.

"It's our objective to improve the tourism industry of the nation and turn China into a major country in this sector," said Zhang.

China has decided to start more tourism projects in the coming few years and develop it into a national pillar industry, according to Zhang.

He also expressed that he warmly welcomes the overseas capital to this sector.

"Foreign funds have been proven to be a very effective and economic way to develop the industry," he said.

In addition, Zhang promised to provide the most favourable policies, best service and the most desirable investment environment for foreign investors.

"We have strong confidence in the huge potential of the nation's tourism industry," Zhang affirmed.

Dalian, the host city, also highlighted its night life and scenic view of the sea at the fair.

The city, which enjoys the reputation as "the nation's coastal garden," has made it a point to highlight its tourism industry.

"Beautiful scenery and qualified tourism service should be one of Dalian's name cards," indicated Bo Xilai, mayor of the city.

Tourism experts predict that tourism will be the most prosperous industry in next 10 to 20 years.



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