The Three Gorges Dam Project has cast a shadow over Chongqing's
tourism industry, the vice-mayor of the southwestern metropolis Tan
Xiwei recently admitted.
"The dam does bring more challenges than opportunities to
Chongqing's Three Gorges tourism industry," Tan was quoted as
saying in China Business News yesterday.
His remarks came amid speculations that Chongqing had fallen
behind neighboring Yichang in central China's Hubei Province in the
race to attract visitors to see the Three Gorges.
Completed last summer, the vast dam at Sandouping in the middle
of the Xiling Gorge near Yichang has become a new tourist
destination, with Chongqing tourism authorities promoting the dam
as a key part of a tour along the Yangtze.
However, Yichang is now winning these tourists, and the economic
benefits they bring, away from Chongqing, particularly after the
city launched a major new promotional campaign last year, Tan
said.
"Special characteristics are essential for the fast growth of
Chongqing's tourism industry. Currently, Chongqing's appeal lies in
ecological and rural attractions, ancient towns and hot spring
tours," said Tan.
He said 2007 has been designated "ecological tourism year" in
Chongqing, with "countryside," "ancient town," and "hot spring"
years to follow.
Studies show that Chongqing has "first-class ecological tourism
resources by both Chinese and international standards," said Tan,
but he said the municipality lacks first-class tourism
products.
Chongqing has instructed a think tank to draft a blueprint for
local tourism development, and it is expected to come up with a
plan in March this year. The question of how to integrate all
scenic spots around the Three Gorges area will be answered at the
first half of this year, and construction is slated to begin in the
second half of the year.
But a local tourism business insider, who preferred to remain
anonymous, warned that the strategy failed to make full use of the
region's rich cultural and historic resources. Chongqing tourism
will still be "begging with a golden bowl in their hands," he
said.
The Three Gorges region is a famous scenic spot along the
Yangtze River in Chongqing Municipality and Hubei Province.
With a total length of approximately 200 kilometers, the region
consists of Qutang Gorge, Wuxia Gorge and Xiling Gorge.
(Xinhua News Agency February 16, 2007)