Tourism will become a pillar industry of Shandong’s economy with a boost in investment in the industry, according to the local Tourism Administration.

Construction of the cruise terminal in Shandong Peninsula will also be accelerated, and ports of call established in Qingdao, Yantai and Weihai, as well as make Qingdao the home port of cruise terminal.

A number of holiday inns will also be opened to make Shandong Peninsula a resort for relaxing.

More resorts like Peng Lai Pavilion and Laoshan Mountain will turn sightseeing tours into relaxing vacation.

It will support ten tourist groups and construct another fifteen scenic spots above 4A level to increase the attraction.

As China has upgraded the development of Yellow Rive Delta into national strategy, Shandong will take the chance to establish a national Ecotourism Area in Yellow River Delta.

Six cities of China’s first outstanding tourist destinations in Shandong province such as Jinan, Qingdao, Yantai, Weihai, Tai’an and Qufu will battle to win the title of China’s Best Tourist Cities in the future.

Local tourism plans will focus on “Travel in Shandong while visiting the Expo” and “2010-new year banquet by hospitable Shandong”.

With these investments, Shandong promises to host 330 million tourists and bring in 2.9 hundred million yuan in tourism revenue this year.

By Ji Yuan (China Daily Shandong Bureau)

Editor: Li Jing