National Tourism Administration (China)

National Tourism Administration (China)
Agency name	National Tourism Administration (China)
Native name	国家旅游局
Formed	1982
Dissolved	2018
Superseding	Ministry of Culture and Tourism
Jurisdiction	People's Republic of China
Headquarters	Beijing
Chief1 name	Li Jinzao
Chief1 position	Administrator
Parent agency	State Council

National Tourism Administration (China) The National Tourism Administration (China) was a central administrative agency of the State Council (China) responsible for tourism policy, planning, regulation, and promotion across the People's Republic of China. Established in 1982 and reorganized into the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in 2018, the agency worked with provincial, municipal, and international partners including the China National Tourism Administration (predecessor), China National Tourism Administration (successor name), United Nations World Tourism Organization, and other multilateral institutions to develop the Chinese tourism industry and oversee heritage, attractions, and travel services.

History

The agency was created during reforms under the leadership of Deng Xiaoping and within the administrative framework of the State Council of the People's Republic of China to support rapid expansion of outbound and inbound travel following the opening policies associated with the Reform and Opening-up era. Over successive administrations, the agency interacted with entities such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (PRC), Ministry of Transport (PRC), Ministry of Culture (PRC), and provincial bureaus like the Beijing Municipal Commission of Tourism Development to coordinate tourism staples such as the Great Wall of China, Forbidden City, and Terracotta Army. Its timeline involved initiatives paralleling events like China's accession to the World Trade Organization and preparations for major events including the 2008 Summer Olympics, 2010 Shanghai Expo, and the 2014 APEC Summit which stimulated inbound and outbound tourism flows.

Organization and Leadership

The Administration operated through departments modeled on functional divisions found in other ministries and agencies like the National Development and Reform Commission, with bureaus focused on areas connected to the China National Tourism Administration's regional offices in provinces such as Guangdong, Yunnan, and Sichuan. Leadership included administrators appointed by the State Council (China), with figures such as Li Jinzao serving as head. The administration worked closely with legislative and consultative bodies such as the National People's Congress and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference on statutory matters affecting tourism. It also collaborated with research institutes and academia including the China Tourism Academy, Peking University, Tsinghua University, and regional universities to inform policy and training.

Functions and Responsibilities

The Administration's core functions mirrored duties of agencies like the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and included development planning, standards-setting, supervision of tourism enterprises like state-owned travel agencies, and oversight of attractions such as Mount Tai and Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. It issued guidance on certification schemes akin to those by the China National Accreditation Service for Conformity Assessment and coordinated emergency responses in partnership with agencies such as the Ministry of Public Security (PRC) and the National Health Commission (PRC). The agency licensed inbound tour operators, regulated outbound travel in coordination with carriers including Air China, China Eastern Airlines, and China Southern Airlines, and liaised with visa-issuing missions such as the Embassy of the People's Republic of China abroad.

Policies and Regulations

The Administration promulgated regulations and standards comparable to rulemaking by the State Council (China) and developed policies on topics including heritage protection for sites like the Summer Palace, environmental management for destinations like Jiuzhaigou Valley, and safety standards for attractions supervised alongside the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development (PRC). It issued administrative measures affecting sectors similar to those governed by the Civil Aviation Administration of China and worked on cross-border arrangements with counterparts including the U.S. Department of State's consular sections, the European Union delegation in Beijing, and tourism ministries of nations such as Thailand, Japan, South Korea, and Australia.

Domestic Tourism Development

Domestically, the Administration promoted regional strategies emphasizing provinces and municipalities like Hainan, Guangxi, Tibet Autonomous Region, Inner Mongolia, and Shaanxi to diversify offerings beyond major urban centers such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou. It supported rural tourism pilot projects in counties associated with campaigns for scenic areas like Yellow Mountain, Lijiang Old Town, and Mount Emei, working with development banks including the China Development Bank and investment platforms like the Belt and Road Initiative financing mechanisms to fund infrastructure. The Administration partnered with operators including China Travel Service and hotel groups such as Jin Jiang International and HNA Group to expand accommodation, guide services, and cultural tourism tied to festivals like the Spring Festival and Mid-Autumn Festival.

International Promotion and Cooperation

International promotion efforts involved participation in exhibitions such as the ITB Berlin trade fair and collaboration with global organizations like the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization for heritage listings, and the ASEAN tourism forums for regional integration. Bilateral cooperation agreements were negotiated with ministries and agencies of countries including Russia, France, Germany, United Kingdom, United States, Canada, India, and Brazil to boost air links, reciprocal visa arrangements, and joint marketing campaigns. The Administration cultivated partnerships with multinational travel companies, airline alliances like SkyTeam, and destination marketing organizations comparable to VisitBritain and Brand USA.

Major Initiatives and Campaigns

Major initiatives included national branding campaigns, destination classifications like the AAAAA Tourist Attractions rating system, safety and quality drives similar to international accreditation programs, and specialty campaigns promoting ecotourism in places like Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park and cultural routes tied to the Silk Road Economic Belt. It spearheaded programs for tourism poverty alleviation mirroring poverty reduction projects administered by the National Development and Reform Commission and coordinated promotional years focused on markets such as the Outbound Tourism Year and regional themes like the China-Europe Tourism Year.

Category:Tourism in the People's Republic of China Category:Defunct government agencies of China