China Travel & Tourism Press

China Travel & Tourism Press
Name	China Travel & Tourism Press
Country	People's Republic of China
Headquarters	Beijing
Founded	1980s
Publications	Books, maps, guides, periodicals
Topics	Travel, culture, heritage, tourism industry

China Travel & Tourism Press is a state-affiliated publishing house based in Beijing with a focus on travel, tourism, culture, and heritage publications. It produces guidebooks, maps, academic monographs, and promotional materials used by institutions such as the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People's Republic of China, the National Tourism Administration of the People's Republic of China, and municipal tourism bureaus including Beijing Municipal Bureau of Tourism. Its output is distributed through channels including the China International Book Trading Corporation, provincial distributors, and international book fairs like the Frankfurt Book Fair and the London Book Fair.

History

The press traces origins to publishing initiatives associated with the reform era overseen by leaders like Deng Xiaoping and institutional frameworks shaped during the tenure of officials such as Chen Jinhua and Li Lanqing. Early collaborations involved agencies including the China National Tourism Administration and cultural units linked to the State Council of the People's Republic of China. During the 1990s and 2000s expansion of outbound tourism led to ties with provincial authorities in Guangdong, Guangxi, and Yunnan and with metropolitan administrations in Shanghai and Chongqing. The press adapted to changes prompted by events such as the 2008 Sichuan earthquake and policy shifts like entry into the World Trade Organization and initiatives promoted at conferences like the Boao Forum for Asia. Strategic alignments with state media outlets — including the People's Daily and the China Daily — and cultural institutions such as the Palace Museum and the National Museum of China influenced editorial priorities.

Publishing Activities

Publishing programs encompass guidebooks for destinations such as The Great Wall of China, Terracotta Army, Jiuzhaigou Valley, and Yellow Mountain (Anhui), as well as thematic titles on subjects including Silk Road, Yangtze River, Three Gorges Dam, and festivals like Spring Festival and Mid-Autumn Festival. The press produces pictorial volumes in cooperation with organizations such as the China National Geography team, catalogue projects for heritage sites like Mogao Caves and Longmen Grottoes, and practical resources for industries including hotel management linked to chains like China Lodging Group and transportation references connected to operators such as China Railway and Air China. Editorial partnerships have extended to universities like Peking University, Tsinghua University, Beijing International Studies University, and research institutes such as the China Tourism Academy and the Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Notable Publications and Series

Major series include regional atlas editions comparable in scope to works produced by publishing houses such as Foreign Languages Press, and photographic monographs akin to those by Time-Life Books and National Geographic Society. Notable titles document heritage sites including Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Potala Palace, and Lhasa's urban history; culinary guides referencing cuisines from Sichuan and Cantonese regions; and travel narratives echoing routes like the Tea Horse Road and the Maritime Silk Road. Collaborative projects have profiled UNESCO World Heritage Sites such as Mount Huangshan, Penglai Pavilion, and Mount Tai and produced commemorative editions for events like the 2008 Summer Olympics and the 2010 Shanghai Expo. The press also issues directories used by trade shows such as Canton Fair and guides for protected areas including Zhangjiajie National Forest Park.

Organizational Structure and Ownership

The press operates within a framework tied to state cultural and tourism institutions and has reporting relationships with bodies analogous to the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television and the Central Propaganda Department of the Chinese Communist Party. Its corporate governance mirrors that of other Chinese publishing groups with board and editorial committees interacting with partners such as the China Publishing Group Corporation and distribution networks like the China National Publications Import & Export (Group) Corporation. Regional liaison offices coordinate with provincial culture bureaus in locations such as Hunan, Shaanxi, Henan, and Zhejiang and international liaison points engage with consulates and cultural centers including the Confucius Institute network.

Market Position and Impact

The press occupies a specialized niche comparable to institutions such as Lonely Planet in its travel focus within the domestic market and parallels international publishers like Rizzoli and DK Publishing in pictorial production. It influences tourism promotion policies undertaken by authorities including the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games and contributes to marketing campaigns for destinations like Lijiang, Guilin, Hangzhou, and Suzhou. Through partnerships with trade organizations such as the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade and events like the China International Travel Mart, it shapes perceptions of Chinese cultural heritage abroad and supports inbound and outbound tourism enterprises including travel agencies like China CYTS Tours Holdings.

Awards and Recognition

The press and its authors have been recognized by national and provincial awards administered by entities such as the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People's Republic of China, provincial cultural awards in Sichuan and Hubei, and industry honors from organizations like the China Tourism Association and the All-China Federation of Literary and Art Circles. Titles have appeared on curated lists maintained by institutions such as the National Library of China and received exhibition placements at venues including the China National Convention Center and international exhibitions like the Frankfurt Book Fair and the Beijing International Book Fair.

Category:Publishing companies of China Category:Book publishing companies of China