National Tourism Day celebrated in Hainan
Cities and provinces around the country geared up for half-price tickets to popular scenic spots around the country and organised activities to celebrate the day.
'This is a significant step going forward, for China and its travel and tourism industry,' said bill Calderwood, interim CEO of PATA.
'This is an extremely positive signal being sent by China to both the travel and tourism sector and the world in general about the importance that China places on the travel and tourism industry,' he said.
Thursday May 19 was named the official first National Tourism Day in a move to revive the desire to travel amongst Chinese locals, and to promote tourism consumption.
Dai Bin, the President of China Tourism Academy commented that official days such as National Tourism Day play a great role in speeding up the development of China's tourism industry.
On Hainan Island, China's southernmost point and only tropical island province, free tickets and discount coupons were distributed around the island's west coast.
Tourists enjoyed half-price transportation from Thursday to Saturday for the travel to and around the Li and Miao ethnic group's cultural tourism zones.
Libraries, museums and stadiums in Quonhai County were opened up free of charge to local residents for a week from Thursday.
The date of May 19 was chosen specifically to commemorate the day when China's ancient traveller, geographer, historian and writer Xu Xiake began writing his masterpiece, 'Travel Notes of Xu Xiake' during the Ming Dynasty.
Throughout his 30 years of travelling through China, Xiake documented his various experiences and consequently mapped out a geography of the country, highlighting its prominent sights and attractions.
Dozens of tourists started driving along Xu's route on Tuesday morning to celebrate. The local government arranged 80 buses and temporary parking lots to receive tourists on the day.
Major cities along the Xu Xiake travel route established the Xu Xiake Alliance for China's Tourism, which hosted various activities to celebrate the day and are gearing up for following years' annual celebrations.
Holding National Tourism Day in May, mid to late Spring in China, also marks the best time for travel in China.
The creation of the first National Tourism Day and the extent to which it was celebrated throughout China, from the Northern provinces down to its tropical island tourism project of Hainan, reflects the country's commitment to the development of its tourism industry as a vehicle for economic growth.
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