中 Sichuan officials promote local tourism

A photo of Jiuding Mountain in Sichuan province. [CNSPhoto]

Chengdu (ECNS) -- Sichuan is safe and its beauty intact after the earthquake, Sichuan officials said at the Fortune Global Forum on Friday.

Hao Kangli, head of the provincial travel bureau, said at the forum, held in the capital city Chengdu. The city, which provides natural landscapes, cultural heritage and folk customs, is a prefect tourist destination and can provide high-level tourist services.

In 2012, domestic tourists reached 434 million, a year-on-year increase of 24.2 percent, and tourists from foreign countries and Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macao regions accounted for 2.27 million, with a year-on-year increase of 25.1 percent, Hao said.

Airlines to Yading, a national-level reserve in Sichuan, has been launched, and travel routes to Jiuzhai and Huanglong have opened, Hao said.

Hao hoped that forum attendees will experience the real Sichuan while in town, and have a chance to be a real Sichuanese.

Chengdu can lure visitors here a second time, he said.