Official: Developing Tourism to Achieve Harmony

Statistics show that during the past National Day holiday, about 70% of domestic tourists from cities chose to travel to scenic spots in the countryside. The booming "Countryside Tourism" plays a significant role in narrowing the gap between cities and rural areas, says Shao Qiwei. Tourists bring money and up-to-date information to villages, promote rural infrastructure construction and create more working opportunities. These exchanges thanks to tourism development will help to achieve a balance and harmony across the country, Shao says.

By this October, 125 countries and regions across the world have become official tourist destinations for Chinese travelers. On overseas tourism, Shao notes that each Chinese citizen traveling outside of China is an "ambassador of Chinese civilization" who helps foreigners better know China. He also says that by attracting foreign tourists to China, China presents to the world not only her time-honored civilization and spectacular natural resources, but also Chinese peoples hospitality and the Chinese governments endeavor to construct a harmonious society at home and a peaceful, harmonious world along with other countries.

One of the key characteristics of a "harmonious society" is harmony between man and nature. Thus, Shao stresses that Chinese tourism must coordinate with policies for sustainable development. The mode of development in which natural and cultural resources are devoured must be reformed to maintain Chinas tourism wealth. Fortunately, many tourism developers have realized the importance of environmental protection by now, and have made efforts to restore the damages already done, says Shao. This is the first step to re-achieving a harmonious balance between man and nature, which is sure to ultimately benefit tourists.