China’s Jilin Province aims to build high-quality snow, ice tourism industry

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 31 -- The Jilin Province in northeast China aims to build a high-quality snow and ice tourism industry, as part of its goal to build a world-class ice and snow tourism destination.

It also targets to promote the integrated development of snow and ice-related industries, build a strong snow and ice economy, and realise the transition from ice and snow industry to economy by turning the ‘cold resource’ of ice and snow into a ‘hot industry’, said the Jilin Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism.

"Taking advantage of the opportunities brought on by the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, Jilin has actively been promoting the brand building of ‘Winter Olympics in Beijing, Experience in Jilin’, to further popularise ice and snow sports and strengthen the influence of a series of ice and snow activities," it said in a statement.

Among the activities are Vasaloppet China International Skiing Festival, national winter swimming invitational tournament, Songhua River International Winter Dragon Boat Race, and Chagan Lake winter fishing festival.

Jilin has comprehensively promoted the development and upgrading of ice and snow sports, equipment manufacturing, ice and snow tourism services, and other industries to create ‘smart ice and snow’, as well as promote the diversified dissemination of ice and snow elements in the province.

In addition, it has actively been promoting the construction of the ‘Ice and Snow Silk Road’, with the province as the core, based in northeast China and facing Northeast Asia, and has strengthened cooperation and exchanges with the ice and snow countries along the Belt and Road.

Jilin's total snow trails cover an area of 1,050 hectares, ranking first in China and accounting for about 20 per cent of the country's total. Its resorts have the best natural conditions and are of competitive quality in Asia.

During the 2018-2019 snow season, the province received 84.3 million tourists and recording a revenue of 169.8 billion yuan (US$26.2 billion; US$1 = RM4.02) in ice and snow tourism, up 62 per cent and 86 per cent respectively from five years ago.

-- BERNAMA