China
        

Society

China sets national tourism day

Updated: 2011-04-13 07:34

By Xin Dingding (China Daily)

Twitter Facebook Myspace Yahoo! Linkedin Mixx

Beijing - The National Tourism Administration of China announced on Tuesday that national tourism day will fall on May 19 each year, despite previous calls for setting the date on Chairman Mao Zedong's birthday.

Related readings:
China sets national tourism day China to nurture tourism into pillar industry
China sets national tourism day China now world's third-biggest tourism draw
China sets national tourism day China key to Japan's tourism recovery: official

Zhu Shanzhong, the administration's deputy chief, told a press conference that the tourism day was set for May 19. That is the date that Xu Xiake, a famous geographer and tourist in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), began writing travel books.

According to previous reports, the Hunan tourism bureau proposed scheduling national tourism day for Dec 26, the same date as Chairman Mao's birthday. But that notion met with wide opposition from netizens, who accused the province of trying to "use the great leader's heritage to boost revenue".

Zhang Jianzhong, spokesman for the administration, said the public will not be granted a day off from work on national tourism day. Authorities will instead call on prominent tourist attractions to observe the day by charging no entrance fees and taking other steps meant to arouse the public's interest in travel, he said.

Specials

Share your China stories!

Foreign readers are invited to share your China stories.

Art auctions

China accounted for 33% of global fine art sales.

Waiting for drivers' seat

Lack of sponsorship appears to be why Chinese drivers have yet to race in a Formula 1 event

Panic buying of salt
Earthquake Hits Japan
NPC & CPPCC sessions