2010—Speech at the Consultation Forum on "Accelerating the Transformation of Economic Development" (Part 1)
This June, also here and also chaired by Party Secretary Bojun, opinions were sought from democratic parties and the Federation of Industry and Commerce on "strengthening the city through culture." After the official document was issued, I found that the opinions and suggestions I put forward on behalf of the Municipal Committee of the China Democratic League had basically been adopted, especially the key parts reflected in the final document.
This article has been compiled from historical materials in the "Zhangjiajie Tour Guide Network" (33519.com · City Overview section). Some administrative divisions, population, socioeconomic data, and policy information may be outdated and are for reference only; for the latest situation, please refer to official releases by the local government and scenic areas.
In June of this year, also here, and also presided over by Municipal Party Secretary Comrade Bojun, opinions were solicited from democratic parties and the Federation of Industry and Commerce on "strengthening the city through culture." After the formal document was issued, I found that the opinions and suggestions I put forward on behalf of the Municipal Committee of the China Democratic League had basically been adopted, especially with the key parts reflected in the formally issued document. This demonstrates the sincerity of the CPC Municipal Committee in soliciting opinions.
This time, after seeing the draft for soliciting opinions on "accelerating the transformation of the economic development pattern," we made a careful study of it. Now, regarding aspects that need to be revised and improved, I would like to offer two opinions and suggestions.
1. Regarding "accelerating tourism transformation and quality improvement," I suggest adding the expression "improve the system, innovate mechanisms, strive to eliminate institutional obstacles restricting the development of the tourism industry, and form an overall synergy for developing grand tourism."
People's Daily had a special issue on July 26 for Tourism Promotion Month. The main headline of the lead article was "A Vivid Picture Scroll of Grand Tourism Development," with the subheading "Transform the tourism development pattern, enhance the quality of tourism development." The content was a review of how localities across the country were implementing the "Opinions of the State Council on Accelerating the Development of Tourism."
The "review" was divided into three major sections. The first major section was "Improve the system, innovate mechanisms, and form an overall synergy for developing grand tourism," covering five aspects: first, adjusting the government management system; second, improving the industrial leadership system; third, advancing comprehensive pilot reforms; fourth, innovating industrial financing methods; and fifth, innovating resource allocation methods. In reviewing the advancement of comprehensive pilot reforms, it introduced Guangdong's all-out efforts to promote the construction of a national tourism comprehensive reform demonstration zone, Guangxi's launch of the Guilin National Tourism Comprehensive Reform Pilot Zone, Chongqing's launch of a tourism pilot zone for coordinated urban-rural comprehensive supporting reforms, Yunnan's two comprehensive pilot zones whose overall plans had been officially implemented after approval by the provincial government, and Zhejiang's completion of preliminary research for the Zhoushan Islands marine comprehensive reform pilot plan. In reviewing the innovation of resource allocation methods, it introduced how localities, while actively promoting management system reform, explored the establishment of tourism resource operating companies, such as Henan newly establishing five large tourism groups linked by property rights; in Anhui, Bozhou, Chaohu, Fengyang, and a number of other cities and counties, the management and operating rights of scenic areas originally belonging to different departments such as tourism and culture were transferred to tourism departments, with tourism operations conducted according to market principles; Hebei vigorously promoted unified management of scenic areas with concentrated resources and multi-departmental management; more than 80% of counties (cities) in Zhejiang established "Scenic Tourism Management Bureaus"; and Shaanxi established scenic area management committees in seven districts, cities, and counties. I cite these examples to show that localities across the country, riding the strong east wind of the "Opinions of the State Council on Accelerating the Development of Tourism," are truly like the Eight Immortals crossing the sea, each displaying their own special powers. We know that the "Opinions of the State Council on Accelerating the Development of Tourism" is an important milestone document for promoting the transformation of China's tourism development pattern and achieving sound and rapid development. It is a summary of more than 30 years of practice in developing tourism since China's reform and opening up, and also a landmark document for promoting the formation of a new pattern of tourism development in the future. As a tourism city with tourism as its pillar industry, Zhangjiajie cannot bypass this key area when discussing accelerating the transformation of the economic development pattern. Seeing the provinces and municipalities rubbing their fists and palms and the vigorous momentum, the situation is both encouraging and pressing. Can we in Zhangjiajie emerge victorious in this new round of competition? Can we firmly seize the opportunity and ride the momentum upward? One of the most crucial links is whether we can accelerate the transformation of the economic development pattern, and whether we can accelerate the transformation of the tourism development pattern is even more the first and foremost priority.
To realize the transformation of the tourism development pattern, the first thing is to eliminate the institutional obstacles to transforming the economic growth pattern. Regarding the elimination of institutional obstacles to transforming the growth pattern, the "Eleventh Five-Year Plan" formulated by the State Council already set clear requirements. Just now I cited how other provinces and municipalities, when unfolding a new round of transforming the tourism development pattern, made adjusting systems and innovating mechanisms their first task. For us in Zhangjiajie, this is truly of great reference significance.
From May to June of this year, former vice chairmen of the Provincial CPPCC You Bizhu and Yao Shouzhuo led experts from the Provincial Tourism Society and heads of provincial tourism departments on a special trip to Zhangjiajie to conduct research on our city's tourism industry development, and formed the "Research Report on Promoting the Upgrading and Reform of Zhangjiajie's Tourism Industry." After reading it, Provincial Party Secretary Zhou Qiang made instructions, considering that it "analyzes thoroughly and is very persuasive; the suggestions put forward are highly targeted." In this research report by the Provincial Tourism Society, it was particularly pointed out that "institutional obstacles remain an important factor restricting industrial development." It wrote—
"First, there is no separation between government and enterprise, and one mountain has multiple systems: there is both the industry administration of the forest park and the government administration of the district government. Resource management and operation management are not separated, and basically belong to government allocation, with enterprise behavior and market behavior subject to considerable constraints. Second, because government and enterprise are not separated, the roles of government behavior and enterprise behavior are misplaced; for example, decision-making may become arbitrary due to seeking quick success and instant benefits; supervision may become loud in words but soft in action because responsibilities cannot be clearly defined; and management may lead to excessive administrative costs due to interest-driven behavior or mutual exclusion. Third, the coexistence of multiple management mechanisms cannot form a community-participation, whole-scenic-area integrated and humanized service model like that of Guilin and Yangshuo, and also causes substantial revenue outflow."