Xinjiang to invest $500 million in RV camping sites

World
Europe

Authorities are investing billions of yuan in an infrastructure project to build an area for recreational vehicles (RV) throughout the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, in an attempt to attract more tourists to China's northwest on self-guided tours.

A total of 3.4 billion yuan (500 million US dollars) will be spent on building 77 RV camping sites in the next two years, said Gul Ablim, deputy director of the region's Tourism Development Commission.

10 campsites have been set up and 30 more are under construction, and over 1 billion yuan has been invested so far, she said.

When all sites have been completed, RV tourists will be able to easily access campsites with basic facilities such as electricity and water across the region, she added.

RV tourism has been gaining popularity in China. There are about 69,000 RVs in China, and about 21,000 of them were purchased last year, according to the region's tourism association.

Xinjiang is an appealing destination for RV travelers, as it has the largest number of tourist attractions in China－nearly 1,100－across its vast and diverse landscape, according to Li Pu, activity department director of the region's tourism association.

Last year, some 140 RVs arrived in Xinjiang but had parking problems near many tourism destinations, as they do not allow RV drivers to camp in their parking lots at peak times.

They also had trouble finding electric charging stations or fresh water supplies, he said.

Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region is an appealing destination for self-guided travelers. /VCG Photo

To prevent such problems from discouraging tourists, the region's tourism association organized an event for RV enthusiasts this year. It designed a route for RV drivers that will link 48 counties in Xinjiang, and arranged 200 stops along the routes to help them refill and recharge.

"At each site, usually near visitor centers and farm homestays, there will be three to eight water and electricity charging locations for RVs," Li said.

Tourists who register for the free event will get priority in using the RV facilities. About 200 RVs have registered already and about 1,000 RVs are expected to take part between mid-June and mid-October, he said.

Registration is open till August 15. The first group of 25 RVs has arrived in Xinjiang from 12 provinces.

Chen Lan, a participant from Chengdu, Sichuan Province, said, "After the RV trip is over, I plan to invite several friends and stay in Xinjiang for another month."

Source(s): China Daily