Roderick Mann: The government should play a role in promoting the natural scenery and beauty of these places
·Regarding the Basic Conditions for a Thriving Tourism Industry
The most basic condition for any industry centered around tourism,from natural scenery to cultural landmarks,is the inherent quality of what is being showcased.
Everything else is secondary.You wouldn’t call yourself a tourist for taking a stroll around a pond in your neighborhood or for gazing upon your next-door-neighbor’s fence. So what makes visiting Jiuzhaigou lake in Sichuan province or the Great Wall outside Beijing different? The answer is as obvious as the basic conditions for tourism: the subject matter of these landmarks is attractive and worth a visit, regardless of the industry that springs up around them as a direct result. Whether it be in the form of quality tour groups, packages, lodging/accommodation, human resources, or infrastructure, none of this will matter if the subject matter is not appealing. After all, you can’t rightly charge people for a tour of your neighborhood pond nor would people have any interest in paying to see it, it simply does not have cultural or physical appeal. So as long as the very basic conditions of an existing tourist attraction are met, there will be interest in viewing and experiencing it by tourists. How we proceed with monetizing and managing our cultural and physical landmarks is an entirely different issue that has perhaps as many different opinions as there are Chinese tourists in Rome, so let’s talk about it.
·Development of Tourism in USA vs.China
Although these two countries may be vastly different culturally and politically,the splendor of their natural scenery is significant and the historical impact of their physical landmarks attractive to both a domestic and a foreign audience.Take for instance the White House as a building or Yellowstone National Park as an environmental location. Statistics released by the Tourism Bureau of Destination D.C.in the United States report that in 2018,18.9 million tourists visited the nation’s capital last year,and about 2 million of those tourists were international visitors, accounting for roughly 10%. In 2017, approximately 4.2 million visitors visited Yellowstone National Park. Since 2008,annual visitation to Yellowstone has increased close to a staggering 40%.This has caused numerous issues related to development and overcrowding of the natural park,and has caused the U.S.government to intervene to insure the park is well-kept,clean,and maintained thoroughly.
In China’s capital of Beijing,tourism has also increased by a monumental 48.3%since 2010-2015 according to a report published by the World Tourism Cities Federation.In 2016 alone,over 285 million domestic tourists visited the capital of China,and 4.2 million were foreigners.Although these statistics are very meaningful, it shows that only 1.5%of Beijing’s tourists were international,and the rest 98.5% were domestic Chinese citizens. This is in direct contrast to the United States.So how can we account for and cope for this significant rise in tourism,and how does China attract more overseas visitors to their natural and cultural scenery?For urban environments like Beijing and Washington D.C., government assistance may be a necessity to help regulate and ensure quality services for preexisting sites with international appeal.In a place like Beijing in particular, government services can help to ensure that international tourists are not taken advantage of, and more English services would definitely boost appeal to an international market.
·Tourism Development for Sichuan Province
Places like Beijing,Washington D.C,The Great Wall of China,and Yellowstone National Park hardly have to do any advertising for their inherent beauty and cultural significance.They are internationally renown places. Yet,places like Sichuan province have a long way to go before they are internationally renowned. Sichuan province has rich natural and cultural resources beyond pandas,but few international tourists have heard of the Sanxingdui ruins or Jiuzhaigou lake. In this case,the government should definitely play a role in promoting the natural scenery and beauty of these place to ensure that they are preserved,and to also insure that international tourists can access them more easily. When it comes to integrating culture and tourism,the key is balance.If the market dictates that a cultural spot is appealing,then it should be developed slowly and with respect for the cultural significance and/or heritage of the location or it will lose its inherent appeal.China has plenty of natural wonders worth exploring,but if nobody knows about them or how to get to them,they will remain unexplored tourist sites.
·The Role of Tourism in Developing Local Economy and its Effects on Macro Economy
For places with little industrial and technical resources,tourism is a welcome respite and solution to the pressure of economic development.In countries like Thailand and Nepal,tourism accounts for a significant source of the country’s GDP,and a country like China should consider utilizing tourism in tandem with its rapid industrialization.Indeed,tourism accounted for 11.04%of China’s GDP in 2017,and with many natural resources that are largely unknown by foreign visitors such as the beauty of Sichuan or the Xinjiang countryside,with the right marketing campaigns,the tourism industry could account for even more money each year,especially in rural areas.Additionally,there are many extreme sports and outdoor activities such as rock climbing and even camping that have not caught on with domestic markets in China,and can increase economic markets if marketed to a foreign crowd(which may in turn drive domestic crowds to adopt these activities).
After the industrial revolution of the United States,in 1916 President Woodrow Wilson put aside 35 national parks and monuments so that they could not be tarnished by heavy industry.China is in a unique position because of its 5000 years of cultural history as well as its sheer rapid economic development in regards to urban space.In my opinion,one of the great appeals of visiting another country is to experience cultural difference.Therefore,China should make an effort to preserve its rich cultural hotspots,this includes natural scenery and traditional structures,without trying to develop them too fast.If every old building in Chengdu were to be torn down,it would look no different than a megacity in the United States such as Chicago or Los Angeles,and thus it would lose much of its cultural appeal.For Sichuan province,this means not building mega hotels that block scenic views.Instead,the government can regulate private companies to build lodging that are both culturally and aesthetically pleasing,and pay tribute to the local culture and history.This would actually improve the space and not detract from its value.
·Deep Tourism
Deep tourism is a popular term used in China to describe forms of tourism that move beyond traditional sightseeing tours and involve in-depth understanding and observation.Usually,they involve profound feelings of cultural heritage or folk origin.As an American,we don’t have such deep feelings in our own country since most of us are the product of immigration in some way or other,and even though many of us are deeply patriotic and love the Untied States,we take great pride in our different backgrounds.It is not uncommon for a family in America to visit Ireland or Germany and try to“reconnect”with their roots.Conversely,most Chinese people have a long history in China.This proves a great experience and market opportunity for locals to develop deep cultural tourism that promotes a greater understanding of Chinese roots and harmonious values.With such a long cultural history,I believe that deep tourism should be developed more in China to increase awareness and pride for past accomplishments.
Dallen Timothy: The best way to develop tourism is to allow the free market to take its natural course.
From my experience, although Sichuan has beautiful scenery and rich historical heritage,it is not known by many people abroad. In addition, there are language barriers in understanding Sichuan. Another problem of accessibility is that the biggest reason for foreign tourists to visit China is to experience the Oriental culture. How to improve the "accessibility", "experience" and "participation" of westerners from the cultural level needs to be taken seriously.
The United States does not have a national tourism body,such as ministry or department.Each of the 50 states has its own tourism promotional agency.In most cases,these are a mixed public-and private-sector entity. Most tourism development is done at the state level,not the national level, and there are few national-level policies specifically for tourism development.There are of course, national laws and policies related to tourism-related actions, such as immigration, transportation, conservation, infrastructure development, etc., but all marketing is done from the states individually. Each state is left to create its own brand, image and product.
·Suggestions for the Development of Tourism in Sichuan
The best way is to allow the free market to take its natural course.Tourism will grow around these important resources that Sichuan has.Governments should encourage local communities and regions to make their own plans and decide on what kinds of tourism they want to develop.National governments can represent specific areas of the country through international marketing and trade shows.Local and provincial governments can help best be empowering local people and local communities to become creative in their efforts to understand the needs and desires of tourists.Sometimes there is a misunderstanding about what international tourists want to see and what Chinese tourists want to see, so these need to be understood better.For example,according to many Chinese perspectives,“old is bad,new is good”,especially when we’re talking about heritage places,historic localities, and traditional villages.However,for western tourists,the opposite is true:“old is good,new is bad”. In the minds of western tourists,new buildings,new infrastructure,etc.,do not mean progress or development,as it sometimes does in China.Also,“development”is different for Chinese that it is for foreign tourists.Most western tourists don’t want to see much infrastructure and buildings at scenic spots and tourist attractions,especially those that are natural areas. For foreign tourists, too much physical development will ruin a natural scenic area.So,in summary,it is very important for communities to develop the kinds of tourism that best meet their own needs. From the government’s perspective, it is important to know the market very well, to spend money for market research for supply and demand.
Tourism is very important in most places in the world.Some places, however, do not want tourism, because the destination community realizes that tourism can be quite destructive if it is not managed and planned properly. Tourism is more elastic and adaptable than some other economic sectors, and so it is more able to cope with problems and adapt to political, economic and security issues than other industries sometimes are.
Cultural differences are very important for certain tourists.Traditional“mass”tourists,however,do not care very much about the destination culture.For them,the sun,sea and sand and relaxation are the most important.However,we are beginning to see that more tourists are becoming more concerned with local cultures, and differentness is becoming important for this market.
As I mentioned above,scenic spot development for western tourists means very little or no physical development.Foreign tourists do not want to see buildings and other physical structures at scenic areas. They only want to see the original attraction-nature and culture.
Most international travelers are still traditional leisure mass tourists,but we are beginning to see new niche forms of tourism that mean people are looking for deeper experiences, for example spending a lot of time on farms learning about food production, visiting tribal areas to learn about cultural traditions, etc. This is emerging as very important,especially as people are becoming more sophisticated in their travel tastes and as they become more educated. They really want to learn more than the beach/leisure tourists of the past.
Nnikolas Krause: Over-produced, fake cultural performances are not necessary.
Tourism is the world's largest service sector industry, and comes in many different shapes and forms. There is, for instance, adventure tourism, cultural tourism, ecotourism, industrial tourism, medical tourism and many more. A common denominator for all kinds of tourism is that there must be something, be it an ancient building, a museum, or some cultural event in case of cultural tourism, beautiful natural scenery in Geotourism, cheap access to healthcare in medical tourism, and so on.
Nearly all kinds of tourism,with the exception of adventure tourism,require good access to,and infrastructure within,a region,internet access and online offerings in various languages,adequate housing and shelter for the tourists,and competent guides.
When I saw Asian tourists in my childhood,about 30 years ago,they would always be Japanese tourists and they would always carry big and expensive photo cameras around their necks.They would travel in organized bus tours, visit certain famous places, such as SchloßNeuschwanstein, the Kölner Dom, and old market places in the cities, take lots of pictures, and move on to the next famous sight. Nowadays, as the Chinese GDP has grown and with the growing economic middle class in China, most Asian tourists, around the world, are Chinese.What has changed is that the cameras Chinese tourists carry are small and digital, or just be a smartphone, but they still like to visit the same sights.
Another difference is that most Chinese tourists are very aggressive shoppers.This,I believe,is due primarily to the high luxury tax on many imported brands in China,and because some Chinese people are afraid that products they purchase within China might be fake products,meaning copies.I feel that a imported product with a Chinese label is perceived as less valuable than something without a Chinese language label.
Some players in the German tourism industry have recognized the readiness with which Chinese tourists spend money when they are traveling,and cater their offerings especially to Chinese tourists.
After WWII, the international community forced the German industry to label all of their products, more or less as a punishment for WWII,so that people in other countries might avoid buying products made in Germany. However, due to the high production standards in Germany,the“MADE IN GERMANY”label turned into a famous sign for excellent quality. In relation to tourism, the high quality of products produced in Germany, serves as an additional incentive to attract especially Chinese tourists.
The development of rural tourism in Germany has distinct characteristics,attaching importance to natural and cultural resources.Germany has beautiful natural scenery and extremely high vegetation coverage,such as green vegetation, colorful flowers,clear water,fresh air,plus quiet village. A very beautiful picture unfolds in front of us, allowing us to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and immerse ourselves in the harmony between man and nature.Germany's rural tourism has retained their own distinct style, each has its own characteristics.Different architectural styles, different historical and folk characteristics, mutual integration,complement each other. The developed public transport network in Germany provides favorable conditions for the development of rural tourism.The supporting facilities such as hotels, shops, medical institutions and parking lots also laid a solid foundation for its benign development.In addition, the good development of rural tourism in Germany also benefits from the implementation of the rural tourism quality certification system in Germany.Those who pass the inspection will be issued with the holiday farm certification mark,and the ministry of economy and the ministry of finance will be responsible for the follow-up certification. At the same time,the government will allocate special funds for promotion and set up special industry associations.
When German people think of China,one of the things they think of first is, of course, pandas, bamboo, the spicy Szechuan pepper and food.
Most Western tourists have expectations and requirements that are very different from those of Chinese tourists. Most German tourists,for instance, don't really like to visit a region that is designed especially for tourism.I myself, for example, like to experience the actual life of the local people,and not the“golden cage”of highly developed tourism,when I travel.I like to be an independent tourist, and in order to be independent I need good access to local information in an international language. Most of the German and Western people I know think about tourism in a similar way. Nevertheless, there are also those Western tourists that like to be pampered and looked after when they travel, they want everything as convenient and comfortable as possible. So,diverse options that suit different needs might be something that Sichuan could strive to achieve...as you said, demand will create the market,and the market will feed the demand.
The government should guarantee that tourism is sustainable.Sustainability is VERY important. Rules that protect the nature, the scenery, the culture and the environment are crucial, and this is where the government comes in.
In Europe and Germany there is,thank god,an increasing number of measures to protect the environment.For instance, single use plates,spoons,drinking straws and all that are not allowed to be produced out of plastic anymore,and cars with dirty engines are taken off the road.Even though there is no apparent connection to tourism here, I think such measures protect the beauty of the nature and the scenery. And exactly this,beautiful nature and scenery,is Sichuan's most valuable tourism asset.
I think of Anhui Province in China.Parts of Anhui are filled with beautiful mountains.Of course, mountain regions are not ideal for farming or for industrial development,which can hamper the economic development of a region,but they make for a great tourism industry.I think tourism can spread the wealth from industrially developed regions into less developed regions.The same is true for the alps mountains in the south of Germany and western Austria.These regions become wealthy because of the tourism that the natural beauty,and the skiing industry, brought to them.
I think nature and holiday is very important for an individuals mental well-being,and thus for a society as a whole. Germany has very good labor leas that protect employees rights and guarantee at least 20 days of paid holiday per year,and among them at least two weeks of consecutive paid vacation.This is good for the people,and good for the tourism industry,too.
I am not a fan of“Disneyland like”form of pampered tourism,so in my opinion over-produced, fake cultural performances are not necessary. This might be the difference between the Chinese and the German perspective. Therefore, I am not in a position to make suggestion, other than don't create what appears like fake culture. “Deep tourism”sounds like the kind of tourism I would enjoy. My approach when going to a place is to eat the local food,drink the local beer,talk to the local people.Actually,not just talk to them,but try to become friends with them,to share in their“local Life”. When I hear “deep tourism”I get the feeling that, in order to have a deeper experience, the tourist must spend more time in the place she or he is visiting, and get involved in the local life.“Profound feelings of cultural heritage and folk origin,”to me these words sound very much like a intellectual construct rolled into lofty words. I think“deep tourism”could be expressed as just“feeling”the place one is visiting.I don't think the ability of“feeling”a place can be created externally, feeling and experience is process that happens internally and is a reflection of perceptiveness, previous experiences and personal identity of each individual.
Angelo Morano: Tourists prefer "nature" and "true colors" in their travel choices.
Tourism is valuable resource for economical growth and that it has the capacity to distribute horizontally wealth allowing different backgrounds and age classes to be able to benefit from it.
Some destinations are more lucky than others as they have particular landscapes,ancient history or natural beauties that will easily attract travelers, yet all destinations can attract tourism but to do this -- the Human Resources must be well trained and ready to serve the client.The destination must be well organized and dedicated to understanding the needs of foreign guests that maybe are different from the local culture while at the same time maintaining ones identity.The right balance must be found.
Italy is in the situation that the Country is beautiful and has always been a top destination,in time the infrastructure has aged and the service standards are not among the highest.Italy on some markets like UK,Germany and North Europe has been able to position rural tourism up to the point that these origin markets have also bought property.The rural tourism is the key for travelers to explore and understand better a destination culture,habits and so on.
In today’s world there is always more competition among destinations to attracts travelers so it is mandatory to create a multichannel multi-language communications program targeting different age ranges.But the first thing is to create the product and train the Human Resources and prepare the destination. The digitalisation of the industry and the implementation of many tools will boost these aspects. See for example how helpful can be wechat for Chinese and foreign Country in all type of segments (B2B,B2C,G2C,etc.)
In recent years,one of the major mistakes in the rapid development of China's tourism industry has been the blind launching of"man-made scenic spots".Many"man-made landscapes"are facing unprecedented challenges,one of the reasons is the lack of necessary understanding of the development trend of modern tourism market demand.In fact,a growing number of tourists are clearly showing a preference for"nature"and"true colors"in their travel choices.
We already live in a very fake world for many things so people want to experience the real world,if not,they would rather stay home and watch TV.In my 22 years experience in China,China has always impressed and positively surprised me for the speed of changing scenario.In the recent years China is rapidly improving in quality in each and every aspects.Travelers will find the right balance between the modernity man made landscape and the purity of the nature destinations.Luckily,Italy and China have a very long history in common and extraordinary diplomatic relations and I am certain that a growing number of Chinese tourists will be more interested to discover the hidden gem of Italy(the places that are not so glamour,but so beautiful and full of history and culture) and at the same time the cross culture phenomenon will lead many Italian to discover the“美丽中国”(those places that you only know when you really know China, Chinese people and the deep culture they have).
Bora Shnitman: The best way to develop a deep tourism is to create additional tourism products.
A country that wants to attract tourists and provide high level service and unforgettable experience should do its best to provide tourists with a great variety of accommodation, different style for various travelers. 5-star hotels for high end tourists, and a tent campsite for those who like to camp or hike. Convenient transportation, educated, and professional guides are all very important. All those are components of a great tourist product.
Israel had been a very popular country for tourists since its early days for its natural resources, historical and cultural attractions and its hospitable people.The focus of Israel promotion in China is on history, culture, innovation and diversity.Israel has many culture and history related resources, many start up companies and the country has something to offer to everyone who comes to visit. The climate in Israel is also very diverse and suitable for year around visit.
Many resources mean many opportunities for growth and integration.To exploit these resource well, the key is to be aware to the environment and keep the sustainable growth. Government’s role is to encourage the initiatives from private sector and support them as long as they are in line with strategy and policy.
Cultural differences are most attractive to tourists.This is also one of the advantages and unique selling points of Israel as a leading tourist destination.It is a country that combine many cultures, different religions in one place. I believe that Chinese tourists can show great interest and curiosity when it comes to multicultural destination.
In my opinion the best way to develop a deep tourism is to create additional tourism products. For example, in Israel there are products that can be related to hiking in the desert, cycling in the north, wine tours, culture tour, nature and photography tour, leisure, sport activity, study tour etc. The great variety of tour products can encourage the tourists to understand more about destination.
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