Tourism policy: implementation, impact and effectiveness

Editor's note 20Mar14: Source D142-7.

As an important fulcrum of economic growth, tourism has undergone no shortage of clear development strategy since reform. Currently, the first "Tourism Law" promulgated by the State is in effect and will require time to test. The Tourism Law is intended to set legal limits for travel behavior and various legal relationships.

The tourism industry began to grow since 1978 and, in 1986, the State Council decided to integrate tourism into the national economic and social development plan. The Central Economic Work Conference made tourism a new economic growth point in 1998. Thereafter, the State Planning Commission incorporated tourism projects into bond projects; the railway sector opened the opportunity of hundreds of train travel options. On the one hand, opening up and regulating the rail sector to travel ensured consideration of economic perspective; on the other hand, security and oversight.
The economic development strategy of the tourism system is a government-led strategy. The essence of the economic growth strategy is to expand the industry.

The policy involves several actors. The National Tourism Bureau is the institution responsible for the regulation and management of tourism policy. The Ministry of Transport is responsible for developing roads, planning travel routes, and optimizing road design to attract tourists. This type of decision-making body has clear goals for the sector, to hold a strong position in the governmental policy scheme, and formulate policies according to their own sectoral interests. The cultural sector is not only responsible for managing the cultural heritage, but it is also the official interpreter of folk traditions. They manage, develop, and protect domestic tangible and intangible cultural heritage. In addition, some non-governmental organizations and industry organizations also play an active role in promoting tourism development including, a national chain of travel agencies, guide service agencies, Tourist Association, Explorers' League and others.

Tourism policies mainly use regulation of development policies and a regional development fund to exert influence. Another aspect of tourism development is infrastructure investment. Both policy support and investment are equally important.

Tourism is regulated by a variety of specially adapted instruments such as "travel management organization", "well-organized tour personnel management", "provisional regulations on scenic area management", "travel quality deposit interim provisions", "hotel industry security management approach", "travel complaints interim provisions", "entertainment management regulations", and "travel safety management measures".

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