Sichuan supports tourism industry through scenic spot development

The Sichuan Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism holds a conference on Sept 8 in Dazhou, Sichuan province, to boost the transformation and upgrading of its scenic spots. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Sichuan, a top tourist destination in western China, is promoting the transformation and upgrading of its scenic spots through the rational development of cultural and tourism resources.

Following the new concept of cultural and tourism resources development, the Sichuan Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism will strive to develop A-level tourist spots, tourist resorts and eco-tourism demonstration areas. The department will also build a logical product layout featuring three types of scenic spots – sightseeing, vacation and ecology, according to a conference on scenic spot development held on Sept 8 in Dazhou, Sichuan province.

The Sichuan Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism will highlight the in-depth integration of culture and tourism development at scenic spots and formulate a series of policies to guide the transformation process, said officials at the conference. The department will also upgrade scenic spots to create new experiences and encourage consumption.

"The tourism industry has become an important engine for stimulating domestic demand and promoting the development of the national economy, while scenic spots are the main carrier for the quality improvement and capacity expansion of cultural tourism consumption," said Luo Qiang, vice-governor of Sichuan province. He added that ensuring a diverse range of high-quality scenic spots will become the central theme of tourism development.

Some 15 scenic spots in Sichuan province are named national 4A scenic spots during a conference held by the Sichuan Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism on Sept 8 in Dazhou, Sichuan province. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Luo emphasized that scenic spots must closely monitor the market environment and continuously innovate their tourism products to meet tourists' diverse consumption needs.

He also urged the improvement of service quality and the promotion of smart tourism in the province's scenic spots, as well as environment sustainable development.

"All local governments and relevant departments should create a good development environment for the scenic spots, and cultivate the expansion of scenic spots as a new economic growth point," he added.

During the conference, 15 scenic spots in the province were named national 4A scenic spots. Famous scenic spots, including Bifengxia Scenic Area and Mount Siguniang Scenic Area, made exchange speeches and a batch of new products, new business forms and new projects were promoted at the conference.