China to transform Xinjiang into tourism hub for Silk Road Economic Belt

Channel News Asia

By Jeremy Koh, Channel NewsAsia
POSTED: 02 Oct 2015 12:27
UPDATED: 02 Oct 2015 12:48

TURPAN, China: Hajjah Han and her family used to grow grapes for a living until about a year ago, when she converted her house in Turpan, east of Xinjiang, into a "nongjiale". It is a Chinese version of tourism farmhouse, where food and lodging is offered to visitors.

“After we started the farm tours, our income has increased by another 10,000 yuan (US$1,570) a year. We’ve used the money to renovate our kitchen and rooms. Our lives have gotten better,” she said.

The move came after local officials earmarked the area around her home to be developed for tourism. It is located only a short drive away from Turpan's popular tourist destinations such as the ancient ruined city of Jiaohe and the Flaming Mountains.

Although Turpan is one of the hottest places in China, with temperatures in summer reaching almost 50°C, the city serves as an important stop along the ancient Silk Road. According to local officials, nearly five million visitors visit the ancient city every year.

Still, Turpan has been affected by the unrest in parts of Xinjiang, an autonomous region northwest of China and home to various ethnic mirnorities such as the Uighurs.

In 2013, a terrorist attack in a township here resulted in 35 deaths. Last year, bomb and knife attacks were reported last year in nearby Urumqi, Xinjiang's capital.

As a result, local tourism operators are working hard to keep the tourists coming.

“These two years, especially under conditions which are not favourable to the growth of the tourism industry, we’ve managed to turn it around through our own efforts such as coming up with something special, be it cultural or traditional,” said Zhang Hujing, General Manager of Turpan Unified Tourism Company.

Local officials in Kuqa in southern Xinjiang, the Uighur heartland, are also working hard to boost tourism figures, following a string of bomb attacks in 2008 which has badly affected China's tourism industry.

This year, however, tourist numbers are set to rise by another 10 per cent as compared to last year, despite the unrest plaguing parts of the region.

“Even though there are some human factors, but through our concerted efforts, the growth of the tourism industry here is rather good this year,” said Tan Guanguo, Director of the Kuqa County Tourism Bureau.

For China, economic development is the key to stability in restive Xinjiang, with the labour-intensive tourism industry promising a large number of jobs for the locals. 

- CNA/pp