What is the current status of eco-tourism development in China?

The term "ecotourism" was first proposed by the World Conservation Union (IUCN) in 1983. In 1993, the International Ecotourism Association defined it as: the ability to protect the natural environment and maintain the lives of local people. A double duty tour. The connotation of eco-tourism emphasizes the protection of natural landscapes and sustainable development of tourism.

China's eco-tourism is mainly developed based on nature reserves, forest parks, scenic spots, etc. In 1982, China's first national forest park, Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, was established, organically combining tourism development with ecological and environmental protection. Since then, the construction of forest parks and forest eco-tourism have developed rapidly. Although the forest tourism developed at this time is not eco-tourism in the strict sense, it has provided a good foundation for the development of eco-tourism. By the beginning of 1999, nearly 900 forest parks of different types and levels had been built across the country. Since the establishment of the first batch of nature reserves in 1956, by the end of 1997, 932 nature reserves of various types have been established, including 124 at the national level, and 14 have been officially approved to join the World Biosphere Reserve Network. . There are 512 scenic spots in China, with a total area of ??96,000 square kilometers.

Although the 1999 Kunming World Expo and the 1999 National Tourism Administration's "99 Eco-Environmental Tourism" themed event greatly promoted China's eco-tourism practice, in 1999, Chengdu, Sichuan took the opportunity to serve as the main venue for World Tourism Day We have launched Jiuzhaigou, Huanglong, Mount Emei, Leshan Giant Buddha and other scenic spots, and developed eco-tourism products. Subsequently, Hunan Zhangjiajie National Forest Park held the International Forest Protection Festival and launched Wulingyuan and other eco-tourism areas. Starting from Hunan and Sichuan, ecotourism has gradually developed across the country. A 2001 survey of 100 nature reserves at or above the provincial level across the country showed that 82 reserves had officially launched tourism, and 12 reserves had more than 100,000 tourists per year. However, in county-level cities with numerous eco-tourism resources, eco-tourism has been neglected by the tourism market and lacks promotion and publicity. It has not improved the tourism economy, let alone the opportunity to display specific resources.

At present, in China, the open eco-tourism areas mainly include forest parks, scenic spots, nature reserves, etc. Areas with earlier and more mature ecotourism development include Shangri-La, Zhongdian, Xishuangbanna, Changbai Mountain, Lancang River Basin, Dinghu Mountain, Zhaoqing in Guangdong, and Hanas in Xinjiang. According to the type of eco-tourism carried out, China's currently famous eco-tourism scenic spots can be divided into the following nine categories:

1) Mountain ecological scenic spots, represented by the Five Sacred Mountains, famous Buddhist mountains, famous Taoist mountains, etc.

2) Lake ecological scenic spots are represented by Changbai Mountain Tianchi, Zhaoqing Xinghu, Qinghai Lake in Qinghai, etc.

3) Forest ecological scenic spots are represented by Changbai Mountain in Jilin, Shennongjia in Hubei, and the tropical rainforest in Xishuangbanna, Yunnan.

4) Grassland ecological scenic spots are represented by Hulunbuir Grassland in Inner Mongolia.

5) Marine ecological scenic spots are represented by the mangrove coasts in Beihai, Guangxi and Wenchang, Hainan.

6) Bird watching ecological scenic spots are represented by Jiangxi Poyang Lake Overwintering Migratory Bird Nature Reserve and Qinghai Lake Bird Island.

7) Ice and snow ecotourism areas are represented by Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in Lijiang, Yunnan, and Changbai Mountain in Yanbian, Jilin.

8) Rafting ecological scenic spots are represented by Shennongjia in Hubei.

9) Hiking adventure ecological scenic spots are represented by Tibet’s Mount Everest, Lop Nur Desert, and the Brahmaputra Grand Canyon.