A man paddles his boat in the idyllic Songhua River Ecotourism Scenic Area. [Photo/WeChat account of Youyou Jilin]

Northeast China's Jilin province held a conference on Oct 7 to promote the high-quality development of the tourism industry.

At the event, it released a master plan to boost its tourism industry to the 1-trillion-yuan ($137 billion) annual output level. 

The plan aims to generate a total annual tourism revenue of 500 billion yuan by the end of 2023, with over 250 million domestic and foreign tourists. By the end of 2025, the target for total tourism revenue is 720 billion yuan and the number of tourists is projected to top 400 million – realizing the goal of a 1-trillion-yuan tourism industry within five years. Moreover, efforts will be made to create world-class ice and snow tourism destinations and summer resorts.

To achieve this goal, the plan includes 16 specific actions, such as building an Ice and Snow Silk Road innovation pilot zone, transforming forest resources and attracting sports events. It also includes measures in terms of mechanisms, funding, policies and talent to ensure the implementation of the blueprint.

According to data from the Jilin Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, during the recent Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holiday, the province received 25.39 million domestic tourist visits, with a domestic tourism income of 19.22 billion yuan.

These figures both surpassed the same period in 2019, reaching 139.95 percent and 143.03 percent respectively, setting new records.

Jilin province is known for its beautiful natural scenery, rich cultural heritage and unique winter activities. With the implementation of the action plan, it is expected to further enhance its tourism industry and attract more visitors from both domestic and international markets. The plan will not only seek to boost the local economy, but also contribute to the development of the ice and snow tourism industry in China.