Li says tourism push to help relieve poverty
Updated: 2016-05-20 02:34
By An Baijie(China Daily)
|
||||||||
Premier Li Keqiang joins participants at the first World Conference on Tourism for Development, which opened on Thursday at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. FENG YONGBIN / CHINA DAILY |
The Chinese government aims to help 12 million people out of poverty by boosting tourism in the next five years, Premier Li Keqiang announced on Thursday.
Li made the remark at the opening ceremony of the first World Conference on Tourism for Development, held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
The conference, proposed by the Chinese government and jointly hosted with the United Nations World Tourism Organization, drew more than 600 representatives from 107 countries.
Most of China's poverty-stricken regions are in remote and mountainous areas, and such places have natural advantages for developing the tourism industry, Li said. He added that tourism is an important means for poverty reduction.
Tourism plays an important role in China's supply-side economic reform and the upgrade of China's industrial structure, and the government will develop tourism and protect the environment at the same time, he said.
The premier called on all countries to ease visa policies, simplify entry procedures and protect travelers' interests to boost tourism worldwide. China will carry out 50 tourism projects with international cooperation in the next five years to help the global economy recover, he said.
China is the largest tourism source market in the world, according to the China National Tourism Administration.
About 120 million Chinese traveled overseas last year and spent a total of 684 billion yuan ($104.5 billion), it said.
UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai, who attended the ceremony, said, "China is a leader in tourism and a nation that knows exactly what tourism is able to do for economic and social development."
- China vows to help 12 million people out of poverty through tourism development
- China tourism to reduce poverty for 12-14 million, official says
- Pingyao ancient city wall closes on National Tourism Day
- Belt and Road Initiative to accelerate tourism in Europe
- University and corporation work together to train tourism talent
- World unites on tourism at development conference
- Russia to build first cruise liner in 60 years
- LinkedIn, Airbnb match refugees with jobs, disaster survivors with rooms
- Duterte 'willing to improve ties' with Beijing
- Canadian PM to introduce transgender rights bill
- Hillary Clinton says her husband not to serve in her cabinet
- New York cake show designs fool your eyes
- China Daily, celebrating 35 years
- Six things you may not know about Grain Buds
- China Beijing International High-tech Expo
- Highlights at Google I/O developers conference
- Nation celebrates International Museum Day
- Body brushwork creates vivid animals
- Can you still recognize these cities?
- A private museum owner's devotion to cultural protection
Most Viewed
Editor's Picks
Anti-graft campaign targets poverty relief |
Cherry blossom signal arrival of spring |
In pictures: Destroying fake and shoddy products |
China's southernmost city to plant 500,000 trees |
Cavers make rare finds in Guangxi expedition |
Cutting hair for Longtaitou Festival |
Today's Top News
Liang avoids jail in shooting death
China's finance minister addresses ratings downgrade
Duke alumni visit Chinese Embassy
Marriott unlikely to top Anbang offer for Starwood: Observers
Chinese biopharma debuts on Nasdaq
What ends Jeb Bush's White House hopes
Investigation for Nicolas's campaign
Will US-ASEAN meeting be good for region?
US Weekly
Geared to go |
The place to be |