"Bashu cultural tourism corridor does not only belong to Sichuan and Chongqing, or China but the world." Liu Qi, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), Secretary of the CPC Committee and Director of the Chongqing Municipal Commission of Culture and Tourism Development, submitted his suggestion at China's Two Sessions: to accelerate the integration and common development of cultural tourism in Sichuan and Chongqing, grow Bashu cultural tourism corridor into a world-class cultural tourism brand, and take Bashu culture as the engine to high-speed power growth of China's fourth economic pole.

To create a world-class cultural tourism corridor

CPPCC member Liu Qi believed that developing Bashu cultural tourism corridor together by Sichuan and Chongqing is a practical need and a critical route to realize integrated cultural tourism in the Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle, more than the inheritance of Bashu culture.

He noted that Sichuan and Chongqing, by establishing the Bashu cultural tourism corridor national pilot reform zone, have stimulated the implementation of a slew of key cultural tourism industry projects, which can play the leading role while carrying out other major plans. Leveraging new business forms via the integration of cultural tourism with giant pandas, TVs and movies, digital animation, themed entertainment, and new artistic creation, they are creating advantageous Bashu-featured industrial clusters.

Liu suggested that next, Sichuan and Chongqing should step up efforts to introduce Bashu culture to the world, making it a world-class cultural tourism brand.

"Bashu cultural tourism corridor should have a place in the global arena. To realize this, Sichuan and Chongqing must work together," said Liu.

To enrich the tourist experience

Liu is also concerned about enriching the tourist experience. "How to ensure that tourists from other countries or other places in China have a great trip in Sichuan and Chongqing?" Liu pointed out that Sichuan and Chongqing had had mature ideas on itinerary creation, transport organization, cultural sharing, mutual development of cultural resources, complaint & advice, and sharing of public services. All of them are expected to be put into practice in 2021, the first year of the 14th Five-Year Plan period.

According to the CPPCC member, the guidelines on developing a comprehensive transport network, which was released recently, confirmed the Chengdu-Chongqing region's position as the fourth economic pole for the first time. This is a great booster for cultural tourism development in Sichuan and Chongqing. Sichuan and Chongqing will endeavor to develop Bashu cultural tourism corridor into a center to promote Chinese civilization and culture, a worldwide renowned tourist destination, and a vital platform for international economic cooperation and cultural exchanges by 2035. Besides, the cultural tourism industry is expected to become a pillar for Chengdu-Chongqing's economic circle construction. By then, the total income from cultural tourism will exceed 5 trillion yuan (about 0.8 trillion U. S. dollars), and the number of consumers in this field will top 1.5 billion.

"We believe that the integration of culture with tourism can be realized within the shortest time as Sichuan and Chongqing people have no language barriers and share similar dietary habits. We are family. As long as we can cooperate, we will shine in the world," said Liu.