Among the means to stimulate economic growth, ecological tourism sounds quite fashionable. This partly helps explain the interest of local officials in Tongyu County of Northeast China's Jilin Province.

The county is holding a series of activities for its ecological tourism festival, starting early this month. These activities are an effort by the impoverished county to attract tourists and investors.

With a gross domestic product of 2.03 billion yuan (US$253.5 million) and an average annual income of 1,993 yuan (US$249.1) for farmers in 2005, both quite modest figures for a county with a population of 350,000, it is trying to take its residents towards a better life.

Located at the eastern end of Keerqin Grassland, one of the places that bred the ancestors of the Mongols, and more than 300 kilometres away from the industrial centre of Jilin Province, the county decided to realize this target through ecological tourism.

Ecological tourism, or ecotourism, has had dozens of definitions since the term was coined in the 1980s. Basically, it involves travel to areas where the flora, fauna, and cultural heritage are the primary attractions.

As it is described by Francesco Frangialli, General Secretary of the World Tourism Organization, at the World Ecotourism Summit held in Quebec City in May 2002, "ecotourism lies at the intersection of three main areas of concern: the economy, society and the environment."

Ecotourism stimulates tourist activities and helps reduce poverty. It benefits society by creating jobs. It also helps maintain nature reserves and protected areas and safeguard biodiversity.

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