The Gobi desert, snow-covered plateaus, stilted wooden buildings, peacock dances…the unique resources of landscapes, ecological environment and cultures have made China's ethnic regions sought-after destinations for tourists from home and abroad. More importantly, the development of tourism is of great significance to boosting prosperity in ethnic regions, especially in targeted poverty reduction, ecological protection, national unity and communication between various ethnic groups. For these reasons, how to promote tourism development in ethnic regions has become a major concern among members of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC). 

On April 14, the National Committee of the CPPCC held its 12th meeting on issues of major concern. The meeting, an interaction between CPPCC National Committee members and senior officials from the National Ethnic Affairs Commission and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, focused on promoting tourism in ethnic regions. Six CPPCC National Committee members asked questions at the venue and another four members did so through a videoconferencing platform. In addition, the Committee on Ethnic and Religious Affairs of the CPPCC National Committee had opened a special mobile platform for members to take part in the discussions on this topic. Nearly 80 members of the CPPCC National Committee put forward their proposals and suggestions on how to promote tourism development in the country's ethnic regions. 

Racing against time to promote overall resumption of tourism operations

Since the beginning of this year, the abrupt outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic has severely impacted socioeconomic development in many sectors including tourism. With the epidemic recently brought under control, how to promote resumption of tourism operations in ethnic regions and minimize the negative influence of the epidemic has become a frequently discussed topic among CPPCC National Committee members.

Lei Xun (CPPCC National Committee member and a researcher at an institute under the PLA Air Force): During the five-day Tomb Sweeping Day holiday, the renowned Huangshan Mountains Scenic Area in Anhui province welcomed an unexpected number of tourists, which forced the local authorities to limit visitor numbers to 20,000 a day. As a result, entrance tickets were sold out in less than two hours online. The business boom not only reflects the great demand from tourists that had been inhibited in the past two months but also justifies the necessity of overall and orderly business resumption in the tourism industry. The tourism sector in China's ethnic regions should make accurate responses to this new opportunity. It is suggested that local governments offer incentive packages — including waiving or reducing ticket fees, issuing coupons, and providing free shuttle bus rides — to promote business resumption and help in economic recovery.  

Yang Xiaobo (CPPCC National Committee member and deputy chief of the Committee on Ethnic and Religious Affairs of the CPPCC National Committee): Promoting tourism development is conducive to facilitating high-quality growth and implementing new development models in ethnic regions. It is also a crucial measure for balancing urban and rural development and achieving success in building a comprehensive xiaokang — or moderately prosperous — society, promoting cultural exchanges among ethnic groups and consolidating national unity. Tourism development should be regarded as an important growth strategy, and more investments should be made in the tourism sector in ethnic regions to improve infrastructure and services. The sector's growth will further benefit local socioeconomic development and lay a foundation for the ethnic regions to implement new growth models to cope with the changing economic scenarios at home and abroad. Setting up a special fund to boost tourism development in ethnic regions is advised, as these regions are usually located in the remote parts of the country and feature less-developed economies. Financial support for the sector is also conducive to bringing in larger business entities and strengthening the tourism industry on local levels that usually feature small and weak market players.

Zhang Chengda (CPPCC National Committee member, vice-chairman of the China Taoist Association and vice-chairman of the Shandong Taoist Association): The central and local governments should give strong support to the tourism industry in ethnic regions so as to facilitate business resumption in the full industrial chain. Preferential policies and incentives, like exemption and reduction of taxes, should be offered to help the tourism sector lower operational costs and increase revenues, as well as attract more tourists. Since self-driving tours, with a strong momentum to recover and grow, are an important part of the tourism industry, more incentives should be given to self-driving tourists to explore ethnic regions, including reducing transport charges, standardizing road checks and improving traffic safety. There should also be incentives and support for visits by travel agency-organized tourist groups to ethnic regions.

Highlighting environmental protection to ensure harmonious coexistence between people and nature

Featuring the recyclable utilization of natural and cultural resources, the tourism industry is closely related to the protection of the natural environment and ecology. While helping improve the well-being of local people through economic benefits, the tourism industry has also impacted the local ecological environment in ethnic regions. Many CPPCC National Committee members proposed that growth of tourism in ethnic regions should be achieved with a new development model that prioritizes environmental protection and ecological civilization. 

Wang Shuli (CPPCC National Committee member, vice-chairman of the China Islamic Association and chairman of the Shandong Islamic Association): Importance should be attached to protection in the development of tourism resources. The pressing issue at present is to educate the people on protecting natural resources and making the idea that “lucid waters and lush mountains are equal to mountains of gold and silver” a common understanding. Prioritizing protection is conducive to keeping the local landscapes pristine and local cultures intact in ethnic regions. Meanwhile, the governments in ethnic regions should return more benefits to local residents, ensuring that they are not left behind in the overall socioeconomic development of the country. 

Huo Xuexi (CPPCC National Committee member and vice-president of the graduate school of Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University): The tourism industry, especially ecological tourism, has achieved robust growth in ethnic regions through local efforts for targeted poverty reduction and economic development. Field surveys found that ethnic regions have unique and ample tourism resources based on their mountains, grasslands, forests and wetlands. However, these regions also feature weak ecological environment. The negative influence of tourism has become prominent with the pouring of tourists into areas with less-developed infrastructure. A tourism plan that matches the national ecological zoning for ethnic regions should be included in the forthcoming national 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-05). 

He Yingchun (CPPCC National Committee member and vice-president of the No 1 Middle School of Sunan Yugu autonomous county in Gansu province): The development of tourism resources in the ethnic regions in Northwest China should be incorporated into the country's pilot program of building national parks. The aspects of geology and biodiversity should be considered in tourism planning and administration. High-end eco-tours including natural landscape sightseeing, scientific research, education and outdoor experience should be emphasized under the principle of protecting ecosystem and resource diversity. 

Liu Zhuoming (CPPCC National Committee member, former member of the standing committee of the Science and Technology Committee of the Central Military Commission): Sustainability should be the focus of any kind of development model. Disordered development and the mentality of "draining the pond to catch all the fish" should be avoided. When we enjoy the unique landscapes and cultures of ethnic regions, we should be aware that these have existed for thousands of years and are closely related to the local people's lives. In some regions, tourism resources are reasonably developed to realize a harmony between humans and nature. But in others, overdevelopment has led to environmental and ecological damage. We should be aware that development of tourism resources is not suitable for some regions that need to keep their ecology intact, nor is it suitable for regions where the local resources are difficult to develop. One should learn to give up some development plans after taking into account all the factors. Although tourism development can be one of the industries in some ethnic regions and solve some problems, you cannot pin high hopes on it. You cannot expect tourism to solve all the development-related challenges in ethnic regions. 

Ling Zhenguo (CPPCC National Committee member and former deputy chairman of the Committee on Population, Resources and Environment of the CPPCC National Committee): The safety of tourism resources should be highlighted in scenic areas and attractions in ethnic regions. Safety administration, especially fire prevention, should be strengthened in ancient cities, towns and buildings as well as museums, where there are cultural relics having a history of hundreds and even thousands of years. Strict safety checks and procedures for fire prevention should be implemented regularly in scenic areas, especially for buildings and other facilities. There should also be regular checks to prevent natural disasters like floods, landslides and mud avalanches. In addition to the regular checks, there should be response plans for all kinds of potential risks. There should also be strict punishment measures according to the law against negligence and covering-up of accidents.

Telling stories of national unity based on the experience of colorful and diversified ethnic cultures 

It is obvious that the development of tourism in ethnic regions is of great significance to promoting cultural exchanges among different ethnic groups and building the shared awareness of the Chinese nation as a whole. 

CPPCC National Committee members, in considering the process of developing tourism, shared their insights on how to balance the diversity and unity of ethnic cultures and how to enrich people's lives with their colorful diversity while simultaneously enhancing their awareness of national unity.

Li Baoping (CPPCC National Committee member and head of the legislative research institute at Ningxia Academy of Social Sciences): The uniqueness of tourism in ethnic regions is reflected in the ethnic cultures. Tapping into cultural resources is an important way to promote tourism in ethnic regions. The aim of exploring ethnic cultures is to forge the common awareness of the Chinese nation as a whole and to realize the innovative development and creative transformation of ethnic cultures.

Wang Wenjie (CPPCC National Committee member, vice-chairman of the China Islamic Association and chairman of the Guangdong Islamic Association): The excellent traditional Chinese culture is a comprehensive concept incorporating the cultures of the country's 56 ethnic groups, including their oral and written languages and customs. Ethnic languages and cultural symbols of ethnic groups should be indispensable to promoting cultural tourism in ethnic regions. Ethnic groups are an indispensable part of the Chinese nation with their traditional cultural identities formed in history, rooted in their collective consciousness and accepted by the entire Chinese nation. Therefore cultural symbols of ethnic groups fit well with China's overall situation. 

Du Mingyan (CPPCC National Committee member and vice-mayor of Zhalantun city in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region): Ethnic cultures should resort to tourism for their inheritance, protection and development. Ethnic groups' cultures, emotions, merits and lifestyles featuring harmonious coexistence with nature should be respected. The country should lay out measures to support the development of ethnic regions, especially in the field of cultural protection. Concrete plans should be made for protecting ethnic villages and building village museums. Research and educational bases should be established in ethnic regions, with their focus on research and study tours, inheritance of intangible cultural assets and appreciation of the roots and memories of ethnic people. 

Thubten Khedrup (CPPCC National Committee member and professor of Tibet University): Exploring red tour resources should be an important part of tourism development in ethnic regions. For tourists, their purpose in traveling is to experience cultures and customs and enjoy natural landscapes. But tourism destinations should see their ultimate goals as related to what they want to leave for tourists and future generations. During the past seven decades since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, ethnic regions have made great contributions to the country's development and many people of various ethnic groups have devoted their energy and even their lives to the development of the nation's ethnic and frontier regions. There are many resources related to the patriotism-themed tours — or red tours — in ethnic regions. The red tours can help enrich tourists' experience at the destinations and can be conducive to consolidating patriotism and ethnic unity. 

Wang Jianmin (CPPCC National Committee member and Party secretary and director of the Sichuan Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources): The development of tourism in ethnic regions should focus on the exploration of ethnic histories and cultures via telling vivid stories. There are plenty of appropriate stories about cultural exchanges, the homeland, nature, geology and the planet. 

Song Heyi (CPPCC National Committee member and editor-in-chief of China Cultural Media Group): In developing tourism in ethnic regions we should highlight both ethnic distinctions and the common cultural and historical identity of the Chinese nation. We should publicize the natural and cultural resources of various ethnic regions via different media channels and we should tell the stories of local cultures and landscapes from both national and international perspectives. We should also make the great changes taking places in China's ethnic regions, especially those recently rid of their poverty status, better known to tourists from home and abroad. 

Zhong Ying (CPPCC National Committee member and researcher at the Contemporary China Studies Institute of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences): We should make full use of ethnic cultural and natural resources to develop a tourism industry with local characteristics, including ethnic village sightseeing, ecotours, adventures and agricultural tours. Meanwhile, we should strengthen investment in cultural and historical research of ethnic regions covered by the Belt and Road Initiative, fully explore local socioeconomic resources and cultural and historical legacies and balance development and the protection of ethnic cultural legacies to forge B&R-related international tourism brands with strong ethnic characteristics and unique historical connotations. 

Overcoming disadvantages and fostering renowned brands for tourism in ethnic regions with scientific planning 

The advantages of tourism in ethnic regions include the unique resources in cultures, customs, regional identities and other features. However, CPPCC National Committee members all agree that there are still disadvantages that hinder tourism development in ethnic regions, including weak financing strength, underdeveloped infrastructure, talent shortages and low quality of products and services. According to CPPCC National Committee members special attention should be attached to these problems and effective measures are needed to solve them.  

Liang Yinghua (CPPCC National Committee member and deputy head of the Yanshan county government, Yunnan province): As a local official responsible for tourism, I have three expectations. First, I hope the state can enhance investment in the tourism industry in ethnic regions, especially in supporting infrastructure and tourism enterprises. Second, there should be more marketing efforts for tourism, making the industry better known to residents as a healthy way of life. Third, there should be more training for tourism professionals, making them real experts in the industry who can effectively lead the sector's growth. 

Xiao Min (CPPCC National Committee member and former deputy chairwoman of the Committee on Ethnic and Religious Affairs of the CPPCC National Committee): In an era of mass tourism, the tourism industry in ethnic regions is also entering a new era of massive investment and construction, great integration, larger operations as well as a phase of standardization, market-orientation, rule of law, informatization and internationalization. It is advised that there should be strategic planning and effective administration for the industry, using our advantages in planning and administration to improve the governance of the sector. Scientific planning for tourism development in ethnic regions should be included in the nation's 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25). We should stick to new development ideas and principles of inheritance and protection to forge a strong industry of ethnic tourism with pragmatic plans and local characteristics. We should develop more unique, diversified and differentiated products and services, and we should make the best use of resources while avoiding a pursuit of instant benefits, repeated construction and homogeneous competition. 

Taktra Katrung Thopaden Tashi Gyatso (CPPCC National Committee member, vice-chairman of the CPPCC Aba Tibetan and Qiang autonomous prefecture committee in Sichuan province and chairman of the prefecture's Buddhist association): It is advised that the state should map out supportive policies for tourism development in ethnic regions. First, there should be policies to support construction of transport and tourism facilities in ethnic regions. Second, there should be policies to support such local advantageous sectors as ecotours, health tours and recreational tours. Third, there should be compensation mechanisms for ecological protection and resource development in order to achieve sustainable growth in ethnic regions. Fourth, there should be incentives for high-end professionals in the industry. Fifth, there should be policies to support integrated tourism development. Sixth, there should be legislative support for tourism development and ecological protection in ethnic regions. 

Huai Limin (CPPCC National Committee member and researcher at the Navy Research Academy): Exploration of ethnic cultural resources should be highlighted to promote tourism development in ethnic regions. For instance, ethnic garments, languages, food and unique geographic characteristics should be used to attract tourists. Planning and construction of tourism infrastructure should be enhanced to offer more convenience to tourists. There should be preferential policies and marketing campaigns to make the destinations in remote ethnic regions better known to tourists and investors. “One-on-one” assistance between developed and underdeveloped regions is encouraged to give tourism operators in ethnic regions better access to advanced management know-how, skilled professionals and capital. Ethnic regions should make good use of digital, mobile platforms to develop local tourism websites to introduce tourism resources and attract visitors. This last practice is of great significance in the context of the COVID-19 epidemic and will lay a solid basis for the industry's development in the future. 

Wang Yu (CPPCC National Committee member and board chairman of Spring Airlines): It is advised that construction of airports and related facilities should be strengthened in ethnic regions as transport is crucial to economic development. Most of the ethnic regions are located in remote, mountainous areas, which means building airports is more cost-effective and profitable than building highways and railways. It is estimated that building an airport requires only the investment needed to build three kilometers of high-speed railway. Airports are an effective channel which can connect the flows of people and cargo in the world. Meanwhile, there should be preferential policies to attract quality airlines and tourism enterprises to operate in ethnic regions. For instance, there should be subsidies to airlines launching flights to ethnic regions since they can carry more tourists there. And there should be rewards to travel agencies designing and operating tourist services in ethnic regions.