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SUMMARIES OF PRESS REPORTS
TOURIST SERVICES IMPROVING
Mr. Wan Fu, deputy managing director of China International Travel Service told South China Morning Post in June that the main aim of developing tourism in China was primarily to promote mutual understanding, though it also contributed financially towards "the building of socialism in China."
He told the paper that more places would be opened to tourists in the coming year though a lack of facilities for the increasing number of tourists, was a major problem. However, he said that priority was being given to the building of hotels in Peking, Shanghai and Canton.
In June, the papers reported special tours organised by "leftwing unions and societies" in Hong Kong for its members to visit lichee farms in Kwangtung province.
It was reported that more than 2,000 people had made the day trips at $50 each including a return rail ticket. Since it had been so successful, the Chinese authorities were planning "oyster trips" as well, the papers added.
The Hongkong Standard reported in July, that a five-year multi-million dollar project was being proposed to develop Shumchun with the aim of attracting Hong Kong holiday makers to spend their weekends and holidays there.
The paper quoted sources as saying once the Shumchun tourist centre was completed,
the visa system would be simplified by the Chinese authorities.
Most papers welcomed the chairman of the Hong Kong Tourist Association Mr. David Newbigging's remarks on his return from a visit to China, that "prospects looked good for Hongkong's increased part in China's desire to attract more foreign tourists."
From July onwards the papers reported the various efforts being made by China to attract tourists, such as the re-opening of the sea-link, the purchase of 670 air-conditioned mini-buses from Japan, the increased number of tours, the appointment of more local travel agents as China Travel Service's sub-agents and the introduction of a new entrance-exit policy, whereby travellers may leave Hong Kong by one way and return by another.
Ta Kung Pao reported that more than 250,000 Chinese from Hongkong, Macao, Taiwan and other places had visited China during the first half of this year. The Asian Wall Street Journal added that China was hoping to attract one million tourists annually by 1985.
A report in August, in the South China Morning Post revealed that China was anxious “about its image and criticisms by foreign travellers" and had begun a campaign to improve its tourist industry.
This was done by publishing criticisms made by foreign tourists, overseas Chinese returning to Hong Kong and visiting journalists in the Chinese Daily Reference News, which is not available to foreigners and which usually carries only news from the foreign press, the report said.
NEW HOTELS FOR TOURISTS
Both local and overseas press reported that China was planning to build new hotels in a number of cities to cope with the increase in tourists visiting the country. They also reported that delegations had toured Hong Kong hotels for tips and to learn how these hotels catered for the tourists.
The Daily Telegraph reported in June that there was a 100 per cent increase in the flow of foreign tourists, and the Express in August said a $1 million hotel was to be built by Hong Kong developers under a scheme whereby their investment could be recovered outside of China.
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