Since the Chinese Government carried out the strategy of developing western China, the Qinghai tourism industry has attracted huge investment. As well as funding from the State budget, local and international investors have also been competing to invest here,according to latest issue of Beijing Review.
A survey shows that total investment in local tourism since last year amounted to 1.3 billion yuan, 124 percent of the total investment of the 18 previous years. The investment consisted of 200-million-yuan from Hong Kong, 260 million yuan from private businesses and an 800 million yuan from state financial budget.
The financial budget was spent on facilities including roads, civil aviation and communications. Last year, five roads to tourism areas and six sightseeing routes on Beishan Mountain, at a cost of 668 million yuan, were completed. Expansion projects for Xining and Koerhmu Airports have been planned. The administration has discussed the opening of other airports.
Many Hong Kong investors favor famous tourism areas such as Qinghai Lake, Tar Monastery, and “Atomic City.” Many businesspeople have come there to survey and seek opportunities for cooperation. The Hong Kong Jiyun International Group last year signed an agreement to spend 150 million yuan in developing Qinghai Lake Tourism Zone. Hong Kong businessperson, Wang Ming Gang, invested more 2 million yuan in acquiring the Tar Monastery Hotel last year, and added a further 25 million yuan to rebuild it into the only star-rated Tibetan hotel. The Chairman of the board of the Hong Kong-based Ye Group flew to Xining recently for a tourism projectin the “Atomic City”region.
Private funding was also used for the construction of scenic areas, hotels, tour vehicles and tourism agencies. A survey by the provincial tourism administration showed that about 50 million yuan has been invested in scenic construction, and more than 300 million yuan invested in hotels by private businesses. Private tourism vehicles presently account for half of the total vehicles in the area. Among the 56 new tourist agencies, over 40 of them are private-funded.
(Xinhua 09/06/2001)
