CRI听力:China's Leisure Industry

When it comes to leisure cities, many people tend to mistakenly believe they are tourist cities. However, experts say leisure cities and tourist cities have something in common but are two different types of cities.

As for tourist cities, travelers may only go there once in a lifetime, but leisure cities can be visited again and again. In tourist cities, travelers usually have tight schedules for sightseeing, but in leisure cities, they spend more time relaxing.

Doctor Wang Qiyan, professor with Renmin University of China explains.

"What defines a city as a leisure city? First, a qualified environment is needed, including natural, human and cultural environment. Second, a leisure city must have qualified leisure facilities and fundamental facilities. Last but not least, local people's attitude towards leisure and travelers also decides if a city can be called a leisure city."

Wang Qiyan says, based on statistics he has taken, the revenue of China's leisure industry has seen a 20 percent increase year on year. And leisure industry mainly refers to these fields closely related to people's leisure life, leisure activities and leisure demand, such as tourism, entertainment, cultural and service industry. To be more specific, leisure industry refers to the nation's parks, museums, sports events, transportation and so on.

Wang adds that, due to the rapid development of China, leisure facilities around the country will be widely established by 2050. And by 2030, China will see the era of leisure emerging.

"China will become a leisure society by 2030. There are several gauges to decide if it's a leisure society. First, leisure consumption accounts for half of the country's social consumption; second, half of people's time is spent on leisure; third, half of the GDP is contributed by leisure industry; and fourth, half of the country's land is used by the leisure industry."

Nowadays, in China, more people are getting tired of sightseeing tours, especially package tours with travel agencies. They find such trips tiring, troublesome and less satisfying than expected. Everything seems to go wrong. They can only spend one hour or less at scenic spots, barely enough to take a brief look, click some photographs and then board the bus heading for the next site.

So, more and more people are choosing a quiet, beautiful and cozy place away from home to relax and spend their money. Recently,the 2012 top ten Chinese leisure cities were unveiled in the recently-concluded 2012 China International Leisure Development Forum, jointly organized by the Xiaokang Magzine, Tourism Bureau of Chongqing municipality and other local institutions. these citiese include Chongqing, Xi'an, Chengde and so on.

Certainly, apart from these, there are also other widely recognized leisure cities, such as Lijiang in Yunnan province. Travelers do not simply swarm there to enjoy their holiday, but some of them even settle down there for life.

A young man from South Korea Quan Wenxiu has just graduated from university in his home country. Now he works as bar tender in the old city of Lijiang. He says he loves the coziness in Lijiang, he wants to settle down in the place.

"Three years ago I traveled in Lijiang and Dali as tourist, it was summer time. I was so surprised that the weather in Lijiang was so perfect, neither hot, nor cold. At that time I decided I would settle down here after graduation."

Apart from travelers who have been attracted by leisure cities, many business giants from real estate developers to leisure clothing brands have also seen the great potential in China's leisure industry, and they believe they will make large profits out of the rapid growing leisure market.

Stewart Whitney, Vice President and Managing Director of international leisure clothing brand Timberland, explains.

"I think the Chinese market has absolutely emerged when it comes to leisure and travel. Traveling in Europe, traveling overseas, in the US or other countries around the world, Chinese citizens are out enjoying leisure time activities. This is a great thing for brands like ours."

Stewart Whitney says their business in China over the past years has grown between 30 and 50 percent year on year. The number gives them more confidence in the market.

For CRI, I am Zhang Wan.