CHONGQING : With two Unesco World Heritage sites _ the Dazu Rock Carvings and the Three Natural Bridges in Wulong _ some might say Chongqing does not need to go on the offensive to draw tourists to this burgeoning Chinese municipality.
The Dazu Rock Carvings are a series of Chinese religious sculptures and carvings, dating back as far as the 7th century AD, depicting and influenced by Buddhist, Confucian and Taoist beliefs. The area encompasses 75 protected sites containing 50,000 statues.
But the tourism promotion agency of this city in southwestern China whose history dates back more than 3,000 years thinks otherwise.
Since Chongqing remains relatively unknown to foreign tourists, the Chongqing Tourism Bureau (CTB) is embarking on an aggressive plan to quickly put the world's largest municipality by population and area (31.7 million and 82,400 sq km) on the global tourism map.
Wang: Incentives for travel agents
Chongqing has made headlines for its rapid transformation into the economic, trade, and financial powerhouse of lesser-developed western China. It is China's third-largest centre for motor vehicle production and leader for motorcycles, while also becoming a technology hub with a vast output of laptop computers.
Yet in spite of abundant tourist attractions _ 1,300 scenic spots, including the famed Three Gorges Dam along the Yangtze River, as well as 20 famous resorts _ last year Chongqing only drew 1.6 million tourists, mostly native Chinese.
The CTB hopes to ramp up the numbers by 30% annually over the next three years, said Wang Dingguo, the bureau's vice-director.
To achieve that kind of growth, the CTB is even willing to "reward" travel agents, including those from Thailand, who bring tourists to Chongqing. Mr Wang would not describe the incentives, but industry players suggested it involves payments to travel agents and airlines based on the number of tourists they bring in. Many Chinese local governments and airport authorities, besides the major hubs, have adopted similar measures.
Chongqing wants to turn itself into a gateway for tourism sites in southwest China such as Jiuzhaigou, the Unesco World Heritage nature reserve, and Chengdu, the Giant Panda breeding and research base.
Chongqing, dubbed the foggy and mountainous city, will have an armada of 30 cruise ships by the end of this year, many boasting five-star hotel-like facilities and some accommodating up to 10,000 guests each, he said.
A cruise along the breathtaking Three Gorges on the Yangtze River is the highlight for most travellers to Chongqing.
Tourism was given a boost when Thai AirAsia (TAA) started a non-stop daily flight from Bangkok to Chongqing on March 23 with the 180-seat A320 jet, which takes three hours. TAA officials expect the bulk of traffic will come from China as it becomes more affluent with its percolating economy.
China will likely become the world's No.1 international tourism source market this year, and the Tourism of Authority of Thailand adds it will also likely become the largest source market for outbound tourists to Thailand soon.
Last year 1.5 million of the 19 million foreign visitors to Thailand were from China.