News (by Zhang Mingcan, a reporter of the newspaper in Henan)On December 15, the Policy Research Office under Henan Party Committee and Henan Provincial Bureau of Tourism co-organized a development strategy symposium titled %26ldquo;Base Henan%26rsquo;s Economy on Tourism Industry%26rdquo;, which invited experts for discussions about the prospects of Henan%26rsquo;s tourism industry. Xu Guangchun, Secretary of Henan Party Committee made important instructions on the convening of this symposium. Deputy Provincial Governor Song Xuantao attended the symposium.
In November, Xu Guangchun pointed out: Henan should take practical actions to establish a development strategy of %26ldquo;Base Henan%26rsquo;s Economy on Tourism Industry%26rdquo;, and make tourism industry an important pillar of the economic and social development of Henan Province.
As for the upcoming symposium, Xu Guangchun made important instructions. He stressed: %26ldquo;Henan has rich tourism resources and tourism industry has just been unfolding. Tourism sector has become an important driving force for the local economy as well as for the strategy of %26ldquo;new stride and new rejuvenation%26rdquo;. To base the economy of Henan on tourism industry and attach more weight to the industry carries realistic and strategic significance to the realization of %26ldquo;two strides%26rdquo; strategy and early rejuvenation of the central part of China. I believe this symposium can pull together wisdom and resources of all the participants to put forward new ideas for stronger and faster development of tourism industry. I hope the Policy Research Office of CPC Henan Provincial Committee, Provincial Development and Reform Commission and Provincial Bureau of Tourism as well as other relevant departments can take this discussion as a good opportunity to do a better job in research and planning, come up with new ideas and adopt innovative measures and promote sound and rapid development of tourism sector so as to make it a promoter of scientific development and a new pillar of the local economy%26rdquo;.
In addressing the symposium, Song Xuantao said: %26ldquo;The important strategy by Secretary Xu Guangchun is a strategic choice to rejuvenate the central part of China. In current situation and at this critical moment, the strategy has particular significance: Firstly, fight against the international financial crisis, drive up domestic demand for consumption and stimulate economic growth; secondly, speed up the sound economic and social development of Henan Province in the new period; thirdly, promote the transformation and upgrading of Henan tourism industry and advance its core competance. When it comes to the research and establishment of the strategy of %26ldquo;Base Henan%26rsquo;s Economy on Tourism Industry%26rdquo;, Song pointed out the necessity of a relatively complete theoretical framework, a comprehensive development strategy and a plausible policy support.
At the symposium, experts in the industry were active to express their opinions about the new strategy. They reached a consensus: Henan has advantages in location, resources and culture as well as a good base for the development of tourism industry and can be a strong force in China%26rsquo;s tourism landscape. Henan%26rsquo;s tourism industry is now faced with two advantages and two disadvantages.（It boasts good infrastructure and attractive physical assets in scenic spots but at the same time features low extroversion and low extensibility of the industrial chain.） In the last few years, Henan concentrated its resources on the building of economic system from the perspective of tourism destinations but lacked efforts in creating a powerful economic system from the perspective of tourism industry. The strategy of %26ldquo;base Henan%26rsquo;s economy on tourism industry%26rdquo; is a lofty and historic responsibility Henan should take without any hesitation. Proceeding from the local and national conditions, Henan should organize the compilation of Plans of Basing Henan%26rsquo;s Economy on Tourism Industry as soon as possible. The government is encouraged to play a leading role in improving the coordination among agencies and strengthening guidance and regulation. Meanwhile, market and business investors should become active players to combine culture and tourism, tap potential tourism resources, and pay attention to packaging and promotion in a bid to promote sound and rapid development of tourism industry of Henan Province.