Fengkai

Fengkai County in South China's Guangdong Province is endeavouring to boost its tourism industry with a brand new development plan. According to the plan, the county will develop a new comprehensive tourism industry, covering sightseeing, leisure, vacation and exploration options, science popularization and sport. "We plan to promote tourism into a pillar industry," said Liang Zhiqiang, secretary of the county's committee of the Communist Party of China. Liang said the county would highlight three of its characteristics: being the ancient capital of South China, a city with mountains and rivers, and the Fengkai National Geopark. Liang revealed the county's ambitious goal of creating a global geopark and national scenic spot. From this year forward, the county government will allocate 2 million yuan (US$250,000) every year into a special fund to promote the tourism industry. The money will mainly be used in the design of scenic spots, public tourism services, tourism promotion, development of tourism products and the preservation of tourist resources. Liang estimated that in 2007, the county would receive 750,000 tourists a year, with an annual income of 630 million yuan (US$78.75 million). By that time, tourism income will account for 18 per cent of the county's service industrial output value and 7 per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP). "The county's tourism industry has long lagged behind, despite its rich tourism resources," Liang said. "Such conditions should be changed immediately." area code: 758