China to list villages to promote rural tourism

BEIJING -- China is looking to list a number of key villages for promoting rural tourism, according to a circular released by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the National Development and Reform Commission.

To be listed, a village should be rich with culture and tourism resources, boast sound protection of nature, traditional culture and other resources, and have accommodations that can meet tourists' various needs, according to the circular.

Other standards include having a mature and high-quality system of tourist products, complete infrastructure and public services, and the capacity to help with the employment of locals with tourism.

Villages can fill out application forms for city-level authorities to hand into provincial-level authorities, who should lean toward regions with extreme poverty when deciding on which villages to recommend, according to the circular.

After the recommendation lists are confirmed, the MCT and NDRC will decide on which villages could make the national list by carrying out various inspections such as expert reviews.

Those that make the list will have precedence in enjoying supportive policies on rural tourism from the country, the circular said.