Yongding, south Taiwan sign deal to promote tourism   

闽台“牵手”互推旅游融合发展

福建永定相关部门17日向中新社记者披露，“客家祖地”福建省永定县已与南台湾观光产业联盟签署交流合作协议，双方将本着“资源共享、市场共拓、资讯共通、发展共赢”的原则，共同推动两地旅游产业的融合发展。

Yongding (CNS) -- A cooperation contract was signed between Fujian's Yongding county and the Southern Taiwan Tourism Industry Alliance to promote exchanges and cooperation in tourism, according to a Yongding county official on Sunday.

Often called the "home of the Hakkas," Yongding county boasts abundant tourism resources. The region has also emerged as a hot travel destination for tourists from southern Taiwan, since the two regions are quite close geographically.

Under the contract, Yongding and southern Taiwan will build a cooperation mechanism to foster the development of tourism of both sides by encouraging tourist visits.

An information exchange mechanism will also be established to promote the exchange of tourism information between the two sides.

The two regions will also join hands in hosting photography and calligraphy exhibitions to promote cultural tourism.

The tourism industry in Yongding has been booming since the tulou, a special rural dwelling of the Hakkas, was added to UNESCO's World Heritage List in 2008.