REGIONAL> Development
Big investment to come out of Fujian's 5th STE
By Tong Hao (China Daily Fujian Bureau)
Updated: 2009-09-07 21:05

Fujian province is likely to sign 40 investment contracts at the 5th Strait Tourism Expo (STE) with a total investment of nearly 10 billion yuan, the director of the local tourism bureau said.

The contracts will include hot spring and island exploration and other tourism projects with investors from both home and abroad.

Taiwan investors especially will participate in developing tourist resources of the province, said Guo Hengming, director of the Fujian Tourism Bureau.

Guo said the challenge for Fujian's tourism industry is to maintain its market share in Southeast Asia, enhance communication with Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan and explore the European and US markets. Cooperation with worldwide investors will help to improve the quality of tourist sites in Fujian, he added.

Exploration of beaches and islands will be the focus in the future, Guo said, and hopes the exploration will lead to the development of tourism-related industries like yacht and caravan building.

The 5th STE will be held in Xiamen from September 6 to 11. Fujian will introduce various scenes representative of the area, including Wuyi Mountain and earth buildings, to visitors.

National Day holiday to yield big yuan for Fujian By Tong Hao

Fujian is likely to receive more than six million tourists during the National Day holiday, bringing in over three billion yuan of consumption to the province, according to the director of the local tourism bureau.

Last year about five million tourists visited Fujian and the number is likely to hit a historical high this year, according to Guo Hengming, Fujian Tourism Bureau director.

Guo said there are three reasons for the increase: the overlap of the National Day holiday and the Mid-autumn Festival holiday which leads to an eight-day rest, one day more than usual; China's grand military review to celebrate the 60th National Day which creates a festive atmosphere; and the improvement in traffic makes it more convenient for tourists to come to the province.

"For example, the Wenzhou-Fuzhou Railway to be opened in October will reduce travel time between the two cities to two hours," Guo said.

Tourism between Fujian and Taiwan will also develop a lot due to the opening of regular cross-Strait direct passenger flights, Guo estimates.

However, he said overseas trips may be influenced by the spread of A/H1N1 flu.

"The only worry now is the weather. If another typhoon like the previous Morakot lands in Fujian, the tourism industry will be greatly impacted," Guo said.