Tourism forum stresses need for innovation

Chinese tourists are looking for unique experience rather than just sightseeing, experts and investors in tourism and culture industry said during a tourism forum held in Suining, Southwest China's Sichuan Province.

China's tourism industry relies too much on natural landscape, but there should be innovation to bring better experience for tourists, noted Wei Pengju, a professor with the Central University of Finance and Economics.

Tourism does not have to be limited to local cultural resources but can also adopt foreign concepts, Charlie Gao Jianling, president of the US GC Hi-tech Co, said at the forum.

Zhejiang-based Seven-Star Energy Investment Group is building a tourist resort park in Southwest China's Sichuan Province and the park will feature a Titanic model the same size as the real one, Su Shaojun, president of the group, announced during the forum.

The Titanic model has plenty of entertainment elements, such as a banquet hall which replicates the one on the real ship, the largest man-made sky in the world, and a theatre with high-tech equipment, he said.

Ye Hao, vice-chairman of Asia-Pacific Tourism Organization, said that the resort park with Titanic model is promising because of the popularity of Titanic in the world and the application of high technology in the project.

AECOM, a global provider of architecture, design and construction service, predicted that by 2020, China will have 59 new theme parks with a total investment of $23.8 billion and these new parks may attract 166.3 million visitors.