By Chi Chongqing

Affected by the international economic crisis and the"7.5" Incident in Urumqi, the booming tourism industry in Xinjiang was badly battered this year. However, it is witnessing rapid recovery and development, thanks to Xinjiang's exceptional tourism resources and supports from favorable policies and measures.

Xinjiang has rich tourism resources and distinctive tourism products. Its tourism resource is characterized by its large volume, comprehensive category, favorable combination, and great promise. It's a treasure-house of tourism resources for Asia, or even for the world. Xinjiang has a long history and a profound culture. It is abundant in natural resorts as well as cultural resources, and a desirable tourist destination in all seasons. The springtime of Xinjiang sees everything coming back to life as the snow melts. The grasslands of Nalati and Bayanbulak are vast greenness strewn with blooming flowers. In summer, the air is filled with the fragrance of ripe fruits. Cattle are stout, and glaciers are majestic. Tourists inland and abroad can sit under the grape trellis and enjoy the graceful folk dance. They can also experience all four seasons in one day, as is described as"you wear cotton-padded jacket in the morning and silk at noon, and eat watermelon around the stove". Xinjiang's autumn brings out the wondrousness of the landscape. The sight of diversifolious poplar trees in the desert is breathtaking. Desert mirages and the rare beauty of Kanasi are dreamlike scenes. In winter, Xinjiang is draped in enchanting whiteness. The desert and the land of snow combine to form a fairyland of snow and ice. 

In recent years, the tourism bureau of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region has been carrying out tailored plans to tap tourism resources throughout Xinjiang, resulting in many unique tourism projects.

Firstly, the Silk Road. Traveling in such places as the ancient city of Gaochang in Turpan and that of Jiaohe, or in the Thousand-Buddha Grottoes in Kuchekezier would evoke emotional thoughts about the ancient times. It fills people with a sense of the great changes and vastness of time and history. 

Secondly, specialty tourism. Xinjiang has a vast expanse of land, with highly diversified landforms that are suitable for all kinds of specialty travel. It has become the best self-driving traveling destination in China. Besides, many other forms of traveling have become fashionable, such as climbing the Heavenly Mountain, drifting along the Ili River, crossing the Taklimakan Desert, exploring the Keliya River, hiking in the Gurbantonggut Desert, enjoying the vast and rippling sand dunes, and viewing the galloping of wild horses and goats. 

Thirdly, primitive natural sights. There are numerous superb leisure resorts for tourists in Xinjiang, such as, among others, the fairyland-like Kanasi Resort, the Heavenly Mountain and the Heavenly Lake, the Nalati grand grassland, and Turpan and Kashi resorts along the Silk Road.

Fourthly, photography projects. Xinjiang is suitable for photographing all year round. The unique scenes of glaciers bordering forests and oasis alternating with desert provide a perfect paradise for photographers. 23 natural protection areas, the bold and rough frontier scenes, and rich folk customs offer photographers with abundance of shooting materials.  

Fifthly, folk customs. Xinjiang is a home to many ethnics groups, with a profound human landscape and rich yet unpretending folk customs. Thus, it has a folk-custom tourism resource that is rich, distinctive, and unique. Xinjiang cuisine is diversified and delicious. Roast whole lamb and roasted mutton cubes are among the most common foods. Fruits such as grapes from Turpan, Hami melon and pears from Kuerle enjoy global fame.  

In order to rebuild Xinjiang's tourism image and boost tourists' confidence, Xinjiang has been taking successive measures that favor tourism companies, such as reimbursing security money to travel agencies, carrying out activities such as"Xinjiang citizens touring Xinjiang", increasing publicity in various media, hosting tourism festive events to promote Xinjiang, and attaching importance to every aspects of works like high-quality service, security and stability, and honesty in tourism industry.

These measures have been positive in revitalizing the tourism market in Xinjiang. Sampling survey statistics of the Wuchang Tourism Bureau show that since August the number of tourists from outside of Xinjiang received and confirmed by tourism agencies have reached 3,200 person-times, and the numbers of tour groups and tourists are recovering respectively. The number of travelers to resorts in the surrounding areas and rural areas is slowly increasing to 70-80 percent of that of the usual figure. In the whole month of August, statistics show that the number of tourists arrived in such resorts as the Heavenly Lake, Nalati, Kanasi, and Grape Valley is almost on the same level as that of the previous year.

The author of this article is the Secretary of the Party Leadership Group of the Tourism Bureau of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.