What they say

"In recent years, Sichuan has focused on developing intelligent tourism by building three intelligent systems of management, service and marketing."

Wang Qizhang, deputy secretary-general of the Sichuan provincial government

"Tourism Plus is a multi-directional, multi-level and multi-dimensional concept. The integration of tourism and Internet is not only a technical reform, but also a comprehensive revolution in terms of ideas and actions, demand and supply, planning and construction, service and management."

Hao Kangli, director of Sichuan Tourism Administration

"Chengdu recently won the right to stage the 22nd session of UNWTO General Assembly in 2017, which we hope could promote the innovative development of the city's tourism industry. Also, GTEC2015 has raised the city's level of opening-up and sped up its process of becoming a worldwide tourism destination."

Fu Yonglin, deputy mayor of Chengdu

"As of May 2012, Facebook had about 900 million users, and 37 percent of them became interested in tourism by viewing travel photos and articles on Facebook."

Liao Ming, head of marketing science at Facebook Asia Pacific

"We have two provinces, Yunnan and Sichuan, which have made records in independent tourism this year, with each accepting over 20,000 independent travelers. We have also seen rapid development in group tours."

Yu Dunde, chief executive officer of Tuniu.com

(China Daily 09/29/2015 page10)