Tourism, culture merger seen as mutually beneficial

China's top watchdogs of cultural and tourism affairs will merge if a draft reform plan by the State Council is approved.

Under the plan, released on Tuesday, the Ministry of Culture and the China National Tourism Administration would be combined to create a new ministry devoted to culture and tourism. The proposal is awaiting approval by the 13th National People's Congress.

A State Council document said the proposed change was designed to better coordinate development of the two sectors and increase the influence of Chinese culture as a whole.