(Site of the Meeting on Commemorating the 30th Anniversary of Reform and Opening-up  convened by National Tourism Administration)

 
(Shao Qiwei delivered a speech)

On Dec 30, National Tourism Administration convened the Meeting on Commemorating the 30th Anniversary of Reform and Opening-up in Beijing and held the Publication Ceremony of the Report on China Tourist Industry Development at the 30th Anniversary of Reform and Opening-up and the documentary reportage- the Revolution of Rest. The meeting aimed to learn and implement the spirit of the significant speech delivered by the General Secretary of CPC Central Committee Hu Jintao at the Meeting Commemorating the 30th Anniversary of the Convention of Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee of the Communist Party, review and summarize the development course and experience of the national tourism industry during 30 years of reform and opening-up, adhere to the spirit of emancipating mind, carry out the spirit of opening-up and promote the fast and sound development of tourist industry based on a new starting point under the guidance of the scientific outlook on development.

The people attending the meeting included Xia Jianhua, Member of the No. 22 Inspection Group for Learning and Implementing the Scientific Outlook on Development & Researcher of No. 5 Bureau of the Organization Department of CPC, Liu Yi, former Director General of National Tourism Administration, Cheng Wendong, former Vice Director General of National Tourism Administration, retired cadres and veterans of National Tourism Administration, Wang Hongjia, author of the documentary reportage- the Revolution of Rest & national first-class writer, all employees of National Tourism Administration and leaders of the units directly under National Tourism Administration.

In his speech, Shao Qiwei first reviewed the development course of the national tourist industry during the 30 years. He said that, in 1979 the Chief Architect of Reform and Opening-up Deng Xiaoping called for tourism industry to accelerate reform and opening-up, and later he made another five important instructions on the development of tourist industry, which made tourist industry to become the first industry that was opened up and geared to international conventions. Driven by a series of development measures made by CPC and Central Government, the tourist industry quickly realized the shift from ‘mere reception’ to ‘industrialization’. With the deepening of reform and opening-up and the establishment of socialist market economy, the tourist industry has become a major industry of national economy by gradually forming the neck-and-neck development pattern of inbound tour, domestic tour and outbound tour, and progressively expanding and improving the industrial scale, elements and system. In 2000, the President Jiang Zemin declared the beginning of “2000 China Century Tour” in his New Year Speech, welcoming the friends from all over the world to visit China. In recent years, the General Secretary of CPC Central Committee Hu Jintao, and Premier Wen Jiabao have made a series of important instructions on tourism development, which encourages all the personnel in the industry to make unremitting efforts towards higher development goals.

Shao Qiwei said that, “the great campaign of reform and opening-up resulted in the leap-forward development of tourist industry in the 30 years and made positive contribution to the development of national economy and society. In the years when national foreign exchange reserve was insufficient, tourism industry became an important channel to generate foreign exchange, and played an active role in increasing national foreign exchange earnings. During the modernization, tourism industry becomes a significant industry of national economy, makes an increasingly large contribution to the development of national economy and society and plays a dramatic role in promoting urban and rural construction and livelihood improvement. In addition, the development of tourist industry enhances our awareness of environment protection and cultural protection, reinforces the “soft strength” of our country and elevates our image as a large country. In 2007, the inbound reception, inbound accommodation (people?time) and foreign exchange earnings respectively increased respectively by 72 times, 70 times and 159 times compared with those in 1978, star hotels increased by 93 times, and travel agencies increased by hundreds of times. At present, domestic tour has become the main element of our tourism market and outbound tour and relevant industrial elements also witnesses ground-breaking development and realizes historical breakthroughs. During the past 30 years, the tourist industry has always served the overal foreign affairs of the state and the great cause of the peaceful reunification and plays a unique role in many aspects. A total of 137 outbound travel destinations for Chinese people have been opened up and the annual travel exchange with foreign countries has increased from tens of thousands people? time to hundreds of millions people?time. In addition, an increasing number of mainland citizens travel to Hongkong and Macao, which plays an positive role in maintaining the long prosperity and stability of Hongkong and Macao. Since 2008, mainland citizens can travel to Taiwan and the exchange across the Straits witnesses a historical progress, symbolizing that the tourism cooperation across the Straits has entered into a new and interactive stage”.

The great achievements of China tourism during the past 30 years are attributed to the great concern and correct leadership of CPC Central Committee and the State Council, the collaboration of all departments and industries, the great support of local party committees and governments, and to the painstaking efforts of all employees in the industry. Shao Qiwei extended the respect and gratitude to Liu Yi, Cheng Wendong and veterans and retired leaders on behalf of the Party Group of National Tourism Administration.

Shao Qiwei summarized the experience of China tourism during the 30 years into six aspects: first, to insist on government-dominated development strategy, integrate all kinds of social resources and vigorously nurture tourist industry on weak foundations; secondly, to insist on reform and opening-up, integrate both domestic and international resources and markets, and actively involve in global development system; thirdly, to insist on deepening reform, constantly explore new development mechanism, expand new working area, and promote the innovative development of tourist industry; fourthly, to combine protection and development, emphasize resource conservation and environment protection, and promote the transformation of development mode; fifthly, to insist on implementing “people-oriented” philosophy, and try to enable the public to share the achievements of tourism development; sixthly, to insist on serving and submitting to the whole nation, bring the comprehensive industrial functions into play, and promote economic development and social progress.

On Dec. 18, the General Secretary of CPC Central Committee Hu Jintao delivered a significant speech at the Meeting Commemorating the 30th Anniversary of the Convention of Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee of the Communist Party. Shao Qiwei called for all attendants to profoundly understand the spirit of the important speech delivered by Hu Jintao, follow the important statement on the significance of the Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee of the Communist Party, the precious importance accumulated in the 30 years, and the significance of constantly driving forward the great campaign of reform and opening-up, unswervingly promote the development mode transformation in the tourist industry and try to realize sound and rapid development. He said that, “looking back the development course of China tourism during 30 years of reform and opening-up and standing on the threshold of new historical stage, we have to keep sober mind and look at the disparity with powerful tourism countries objectively and calmly. In response to the requirements of CPC Central Committee, we have to accelerate the radical change of development mode and enhance the capability of scientific development. First, to accelerate the shift from single industrial function to comprehensive industrial functions; secondly, to accelerate the shift from extensive growth mode to the mode placing equal importance on quality and benefits; thirdly, to accelerate the improvement of market mechanism; fourthly, to shift toward the overall development of both urban and rural areas; fifthly, to accelerate the shift toward consummate tourism industry system; sixthly, to accelerate the shift toward energy-saving and environmentally-friendly industry; seventhly, to accelerate the shift toward modern service industry”.

In this year, we were successively stricken by massive natural disasters and sudden incidents and the whole world is engulfed by financial crisis now, which pose severe challenges to the  national tourist industry Shao Qiwei pointed out that, “30 years of development lays a solid foundation for the take-off of tourist industry, and we have accumulated precious experience while weathering through various crisis and tests. In addition, the basis and long-term development trend of China tourism industry have not been changed. So we believe that as long as we carefully implement the decisions of the CPC Central Committee, firm the conviction in achieving victory, bring into play our strengths, fully mobilize the enthusiasm of all parties, size up the situation, conduct decision-making in scientific way, deploy work meticulously, and work firmly, we can overcome the adverse effects brought forward by the financial crisis and natural disasters and promote the stable and rapid development of the tourist industry”.