Tourism takes off during Five-Year Plan
The Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, which oversees several medium-sized cities in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, reported a robust development of its tourism industry during the 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-20), with revenue hitting 60 billion yuan ($9.38 billion), up 215 percent from the previous five years.
The area the XPCC administers boasts natural beauty, historical heritage and diverse specialties-all popular attractions for tourists.
A slew of measures and policies have been rolled out to bolster the tourism industry, covering market supervision, environmental protection and personnel training, according to the XPCC. "Problems restricting tourism development have been solved and a comprehensive regulation system has been created," said local officials.
The area now has three major tourism zones along the Tarim Basin, the Tianshan Mountains and its western borders.
Two scenic spots are rated as national 5A-level, the highest ranking for tourist attractions in China. Rural areas administered by 23 companies have also been listed as key villages for national rural tourism.
Baisha Lake, the first 5A-rated scenic spot in the area, enjoys the reputation of being a "desert wonder", with a water surface area of some 50 hectares, resembling a clear mirror surrounded by sand dunes. The scenery is stunning year-round. Visitors can appreciate blooming lotuses in the summer and mountains carpeted with red poplar leaves in the autumn, said staff members at the scenic spot.
Sites such as the Premier Zhou Enlai Memorial Hall and the XPCC Reclamation Museum in the city of Shihezi, allow people to learn more about how the XPCC reclaimed wasteland and garrisoned frontiers in harsh conditions decades ago.
Many visitors, especially young people, are impressed by the XPCC's history and pioneering enterprising spirit, according to local officers.
Tourists can also immerse themselves in pastoral landscapes and experience a variety of agricultural activities.
Despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the area received nearly 22.8 million visits and generated more than 8.2 billion yuan in tourism revenue in 2020.
A worker surnamed Su in the XPCC's 10th division, said: "The XPCC sites have been made much prettier these years, attracting an increasing number of tourists and bringing considerable benefits to locals."
By the end of 2020, the XPCC-administered area was home to 6,165 registered tour guides and 451 tourism enterprises, including 166 travel agencies. Tourism has become a pillar of the service sector. It plays a vital role in driving economic growth and boosting local employment, said the XPCC.
During the 13th Five-Year Plan period, the central government and the XPCC allocated a total of 355 million yuan for the tourism industry. Both tourism infrastructure and public services have been improved greatly thanks to the funds.
According to the XPCC, its divisions built more service facilities in key scenic areas such as parking lots, toilets and service centers. Tourism signs along expressways have also been upgraded.
Last year, the XPCC started the construction of Xinjiang Tourist Distribution Center. Located in Xinjiang's capital city, Urumqi, the 10-hectare center is expected to serve as a "window" for tourists' journey in Xinjiang.
It will integrate multiple functions and tourists can receive numerous services such as catering, accommodation, transportation and information consultation.
The project will reinforce Urumqi's position as an international center for tourism, trade and logistics. The influence and reputation of the XPCC will also be enhanced, said local authorities.
In addition to the center, the XPCC is building a tourism big data center and an online tourism monitoring platform.
All three projects will be finished and put into use by this year, according to the XPCC.
Mao Weihua contributed to this story.
zhanglinwan@chinadaily.com.cn