Deputy Fujian Governor Chen Dong and Deputy Director of the National Tourism Administration Wu Xuewen paid a visit to the Pingtan Comprehensive Pilot Zone (PCPZ) on Dec 8 to investigate its tourism development and blueprint.

Talking on how to build itself into an international tourism island, Chen noted that local officials could hold seminars and brainstorming sessions to get a global vision and enhance communication.

He also proposed Pingtan improve its traffic conditions, set up a sustainable financing platform, earmark special tourism funds, strengthen promotional efforts on tourism resources and preserve natural landscapes, as well as unique cultural traditions.

Tourism has become a pillar industry across the world. The strategy of building an international tourism island close to Pingtan is a pivotal way of turning resources into capital, said Wu.

Pingtan will strive to become an experimental area on tourism, a global destination for tourism and leisure, a demonstration zone for ecological protection as well as a modern agricultural and fishing sightseeing base, he added.

The most important thing is to cultivate and highlight its competiveness, such as duty-free purchases of Taiwanese commodities, said Wu.