2017年CRI Rural tourism helps relieve poverty in China's central, western regions

 

Hua Quan, a deputy of the 5th annual session of the 12th National People's Congress (NPC). [Photo: China Plus/Sun Yang]

Poverty alleviation¹ has been one of the hot topics at the annual session of the National People's Congress (NPC).

In China, most of the rural poor are concentrated in the western and central regions inhabited by ethnic² minorities.

But by developing tourism, local farmers in poverty-stricken areas have effectively improved their lives.

Wanggang Village in southwest China is a popular tourist destination in Guizhou Province. More than 70% of the residents are from the Bouyei ethnic group.

The villagers used to live on traditional agriculture by planting corn and rice on their barren fields, and most of the farming households lived below the poverty line.

Since 2007, the village has begun developing rural tourism focusing largely on culture. The landscapes, visual and performing arts and lifestyles of the Bouyei people attract thousands of tourists every year.

Deputy Hua Quan, secretary of the village branch of the Communist Party of China, said the village's per capita income in 2016 reached 12,000 yuan, or 1,730 U.S. dollars, about 6 times higher than 10 years ago.

Hua said tourism growth not only helps relieve poverty in the region, but also keeps Bouyei families united.

"Before 2007, half of the young people left the village to look for jobs in big cities like Guangzhou and Shanghai, leaving their children and parents at home. This has resulted in social contradictions. Following the development of rural tourism, young people returned to the village to run farms, businesses and breeding industry. The old problems were solved. It also tightened³ the bond of love between family members," said Hua.

By developing rural tourism, more money has flowed through these poverty-stricken regions in central and western China, increasing the number of jobs and bringing new ideas for development to those regions.

Statistics show that in 2015, more than 2.6 million people escaped poverty by developing tourism-related incomes. And the government is continuing its efforts to lift another 12 million people out of poverty by 2020 through developing rural tourism.

Li Jinzao, chief of the National Tourism Administration, told media during the NPC annual session that tourism will continue to be a pathway out of poverty for many.

"We are planning to lift 17% of the country's impoverished⁴ population out of poverty by developing tourism. The proportion is even higher in the regions with heavy tasks of poverty alleviation...We will step up efforts to reduce poverty through tourism. And to provinces that have been already lifted out of poverty, we will continue developing rural tourism to improve the quality of life for farmers," said Li.

The administration set its 13th Five-Year Plan to work with other agencies to provide support for 22,600 villages, including improving transportation, telecommunications, and sewage and garbage treatment facilities.

In addition, tourism experts will draft a workable design for developing rural tourism, as well as setting up monitoring centers to provide aid flexibly.

Yin Min, a professor of tourism management at Beijing International Studies University, said rural tourism has become a significant channel for reducing poverty.

He suggested that the villages dig deeply into the rich connotation of rural culture and integrate rural tourism with culture tourism to ensure sustainable development.

"Rural tourism should emphasize agricultural civilization and rural culture, highlighting the characteristics of folk culture. The form of tourism should enable interaction between the tourists and the locals. It is not only for sightseeing. There should be more opportunities for visitors to participate in farm activities for a more enriching tourism experience," said Yin.

1 alleviation   

n. 减轻，缓和，解痛物

参考例句：

• These were the circumstances and the hopes which gradually brought alleviation to Sir Thomas's pain. 这些情况及其希望逐渐缓解了托马斯爵士的痛苦。
• The cost reduction achieved in this way will benefit patients and the society in burden alleviation. 集中招标采购降低的采购成本要让利于患者，减轻社会负担。 来自英汉 - 翻译样例 - 口语

2 ethnic   

adj.人种的，种族的，异教徒的

参考例句：

• This music would sound more ethnic if you played it in steel drums.如果你用钢鼓演奏，这首乐曲将更具民族特色。
• The plan is likely only to aggravate ethnic frictions.这一方案很有可能只会加剧种族冲突。

3 tightened   

收紧( tighten的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）变紧； （使）绷紧； 加紧

参考例句：

• The rope holding the boat suddenly tightened and broke. 系船的绳子突然绷断了。
• His index finger tightened on the trigger but then relaxed again. 他的食指扣住扳机，然后又松开了。

4 impoverished   

adj.穷困的，无力的，用尽了的v.使（某人）贫穷( impoverish的过去式和过去分词 )；使（某物）贫瘠或恶化

参考例句：

• the impoverished areas of the city 这个城市的贫民区
• They were impoverished by a prolonged spell of unemployment. 他们因长期失业而一贫如洗。 来自《简明英汉词典》