Ningxia has attracted national and global attention after it was listed as region-based tourism destination on Sep 10, right after China-U.S. Tourism Summit took place on Sep 9.

Li Shihong, deputy head of the National Tourism Administration, has announced the decision that Ningxia was listed as National Region-Based Tourism Destination in the forum and became the country’s second provincial region-based model zone after Hainan Province.

“The Party Committee in Ningxia Autonomous Region has been developing its tourism industry as one pillar of local economy in order to reconstruct the industry, create jobs end increase employability. “ said Li Jianhua, the Secretary of Autonomous Region’s Party Committee, “Ningxia will go all out in achieving the region-based developing model with all the attractions, all the industry, all the time and all of our people involved.”

Region-based tourism is a developing model that sees a region as a whole area of tourism destination, where all social sectors including governments, companies and even residents are involving in the industry to bring the best travel experience to the tourists. It aims for creating a quality travel experience rather than focusing on increasing the quantity of tourists.

“We are looking forward more friends, more investors and more enterprises coming and getting to know Ningxia. We hope to enhance the connection with the central and other provinces, to create a win-win situation and achieve the goal as region-based tourism province.” Said Li.

The tourism industry has gone whole regional but also international, after US-China Tourism summit was held the day before the forum.

“There is a huge market lying between Ningxia and the states.” Said Kelly Craighead, the Executive Director of the National Travel and Tourism Office within the International Trade Administration. “The US always regards China as an important market, and the tourism business between the two countries are growing rapidly.”

Ningxiais a relatively small province but with much to offer, and it was listed as 46 best tourism attraction in the world by New York Times.

Ningxia has hosted more than18.4 million national and international tourists and created 16.1 billion Yuan’s tourism revenue in 2015, increased by 9.82% and 13.03% respectively from 2014, which has made Ningxia one of the provinces with fastest development in tourism industry.