Scenic province draws teens from HK, Macao

Fujian province, on China's southeast coast, has become a popular tourism destination for teenagers from Hong Kong and Macao who are keen on travel and study, according to the province's tourism development committee.

Thanks to its geographic advantages, natural environment and long history, the province is rich in tourism resources, from alluring landscapes to cultural heritage. Renowned scenic spots include the Wuyishan National Nature Reserve, the UNESCO-listed tulou or earthen houses, and global geoparks in both Taining and Ningde.

Fujian boasts the highest proportion of forest coverage in China, at 65.95 percent, as well as clean water, good air quality and a pristine natural environment. It has 3,752 kilometers of coastline, the second-longest in the country, and more than 80 percent of its land area is covered in mountains, hills and other landforms.

Last year, Fujian announced the first batch of tourism areas for teenagers from Hong Kong and Macao to use as study bases. These included a scenic spot in Fuzhou called Sanfangqixiang, or Three Lanes and Seven Alleys, and the Gutian tourism zone in Longyan city.

This year, the province has added an additional three tourism zones - the China Museum for Fujian-Taiwan Kinship, Jimei study village and Meizhou Island in Putian - to be used as study bases by Hong Kong and Macao teens.

The tourism committee said it will continue to build study bases and boost cultural communication between both sides. Fujian plans to deepen cooperation with research institutes at home and abroad, optimize its advantages in tourism and academic resources and enhance the development of its tourism market, according to the committee.

In recent years, the province has helped improve regional tourism by building study bases, initiating various study-themed tourism products and launching a series of incentives to tighten cultural bonds and attract more teenagers to visit Fujian.

Incentives include a 600 yuan cash award for each accompanying adult in a tour group of teenagers visiting Fujian, and a 20,000 yuan subsidy to colleges or study bases that take part in the province's study trips.

Fujian has also launched a variety of cultural study strips for teenagers, focusing on the Minnan, hakka and Mazu cultures, and the maritime silk road. Gulangyu Island in Xiamen is regarded as one of the top 10 tourism destinations for teenagers from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan.

The province plans to continue launching study trips and cultural activities to expand the tourism market in Hong Kong and Macao in the future.

One example is the "Refreshing Fujian" event, which shows the province's diversity and is aimed at giving teenagers a better understanding of its tourism market, through exhibitions, online platforms, television and outdoor activities.

Fujian serves as a gateway to the Yangtze River Delta and Pearl River Delta regions, and joins the two sides of the Taiwan Straits. It also plays a key role in promoting the country's opening-up policy and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, part of the Belt and Road Initiative.

Last year, more than 1.69 million tourists from Hong Kong and Macao visited Fujian, up 6.1 percent year-on-year and accounting for 21.8 percent of the province's total visitors.

In the first half of this year, the number of tourists from Hong Kong and Macao reached more than 853,000, up 15.4 percent year-on-year and accounting for 23.29 percent of the province's total.

(China Daily 10/09/2018 page12)