China will pump US$81bn into its rural tourism
China is aiming to promote the development of rural tourism, Xinhua reports, with increased investment and policy support aimed at alleviating rural poverty.
A total of CNY550 billion (US$81bn) will be pumped into the sector in 2017, according to an action plan released this week by Beijing’s National Development and Reform Commission and other government agencies. This marks a substantial increase from the CNY390bn pledged last year.
This funding will be used to boost rural infrastructure and tourist services in rural areas, including improved toilets, garbage disposal, parking areas and visitor centres. Public-private partnerships will be encouraged.
Villages will be encouraged to cooperate with online travel companies, and financial support will be strengthened for small and medium-sized travel agencies.
The document predicts 2.5bn trips to the countryside and CNY1.4 trillion of rural tourism revenues this year, which it says will benefit around nine million rural households.
