Jiangxi to issue annual pass for forest tourism

By Diao Shujun ( chinadaily.com.cn )

Updated: 2012-07-16

Jiangxi will issue annual passes for forest tourism beginning this August, according to the forest tourism annual pass issuing symposium on July 11. The move aims to increase the tourist consumer group, attract more visitors and boost the province's forest tourism industry.

The annual pass will cover primary ticket prices for nearly 100 sites including forest parks, natural reserves and wetland parks.

Xiong Qiming, director of Jiangxi Forest Park Management Office, said that the issuance of the annual passes for forest tourism will encourage frequent visits to forest parks. It will also drive the development of less popular tourist destinations, attract investment from home and abroad and boost infrastructure in scenic spots.

The annual pass costs 160 yuan ($25) and it can be used only once for each contracted tourist site. The province plans to issue 100,000 volumes for the first time. The valid period of the annual pass is from August 2012 to August 2013.

Jiangxi now has 161 forest parks, 44 of them are national ones. The forest coverage in the province has reached 63.1 percent.

Edited by Zhao Qian and Emily Cheng