Tourism provides new lease of life, improves local social welfare

Southwest China's Sichuan province is expected to welcome more than 100 million visitors and generate a revenue of 50 billion yuan ($7.83 billion) in the "red tourism" sector this year, said Lyu Zhijun, deputy inspector of the Sichuan Tourism Development Committee.

The term refers to tourism centered around prominent sites from China's revolutionary period.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of China's reform and opening-up and the Year of Red Tourism of Sichuan province.

The province attaches great importance to the innovative development of high-quality travel routes, services and marketing of the red tourism industry this year.

The province not only aims to honor the country's history and make tourism resources more available, but in doing so, hopes to help alleviate poverty and contribute to building a more beautiful, prosperous and harmonious Sichuan.

In the meantime, Sichuan will promote cooperation with France, Germany and other countries with rich red tourism resources to build famous international tourism routes and products and improve international influence of the province.

According to the Sichuan government, the province will launch an initial five red tourism integrated development demonstration zones and continue the construction of a Sichuan tourism park to accelerate the integration of culture and tourism.

Working with universities and scientific research institutions, Sichuan officials will build innovative development and research bases to boost the potential of red tourism.