Northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region has vowed to use its special natural and cultural resources to boost tourism there in line with the strategy to develop China's western regions.

Wang Yongzhong, director of the region's tourism administration, said local governments will invest more than 80 million yuan (US$9.7 million) this year in the promotion of the industry, up 30 percent from that of 2000.

Last year, the number of domestic tourists to the only Hui autonomous region increased 55 percent from the previous year and the number of overseas tourists, 39 percent.

The region's tourism revenue accounted for 6.2 percent of the regional gross domestic product in 2000, according to Wang.

Government investment in tourism was only 10 million yuan (US$1.2 million) before 1998. "Our region's tourism industry is just in its infancy," Wang said.

"We have made great efforts to promote the development of the industry, as we think the best way to ensure more overseas business people and tourists get to know something about Ningxia is to invite them to enjoy our Muslim customs and the ancient culture of the Yellow River," Wang said.

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Ma Junting, deputy chairman of the regional government, announced that two tourism festivals will be held in Yinchuan, capital of Ningxia, this summer.

Sponsored by Ningxia, the China National Tourism Administration and the Chinese Association of Motorcycle Sports, the 10-day 2001 Great Desert and Yellow River International Tourism Festival will open on July 10 and the Second Yinchuan International Motorcycle Tourism Festival will be held from June 16 to 22.

(China Daily 03/29/2001)