Forest tourism exceeds 20% of domestic tourism revenue for the first time
The reporter learned from the press conference for the “2015 China Forest Tourism Festival” held by the State Forestry Administration on August 26 that in 2014, the comprehensive social output value created by forest tourism nationwide reached 650 billion yuan, exceeding 20% of domestic tourism revenue for the first time, and forest tourism has become an important green industry that enriches farmers.
“Forest tourism is very closely related to the development of agriculture, rural areas and farmers.” Yang Chao, director of the State Forestry Administration's National Forest Farm and Forest Tree Seed and Seedling Work General Station, said, “Among the 832 poverty-stricken counties nationwide, 432 have forest parks at various levels, accounting for 52% of the total number of poverty-stricken counties. The development of forest tourism in these areas has enabled local farmers to realize the shift from cutting trees to viewing trees, from selling mountains to selling ecology, and from selling timber to selling landscapes. Farmers can find suitable work and sources of income without leaving their villages or their land, and their living conditions and living environment have improved significantly.”
According to statistics, the number of forest tourism sites of various types and at various levels nationwide exceeds 8,500. Among the forest tourism sites distributed in poverty-stricken counties nationwide, national-level forest parks alone account for 1/3 of the country's national forest parks. Many formerly ignored “remote and backward places” have now become well-known tourist destinations, and typical examples include Zhangjiajie in Hunan, Jiuzhaigou in Sichuan, and Taibai Mountain in Shaanxi.
“There is still great room for the development of forest tourism in China.” Yang Chao said. In order to build a better platform for the development of forest tourism, in October this year, the “2015 China Forest Tourism Festival” will be held in Wuhan, Hubei. At that time, the achievements of national forest tourism development and national ecological leisure products will be displayed together at the event.