Xinjiang Accelerates Economic Recovery Through Winter Tourism

JAKARTA - The Xinjiang Autonomous Region Government is accelerating economic recovery programs after China's central government lifted COVID-19 anti-pandemic restrictions.

"We have restarted community activities and production activities in full as an effort to improve the regional economy," said Deputy Publication Director of the Chinese Communist Party Committee (CPC) of the Xinjiang Autonomous Region Xu Guixiang in Beijing, quoted from Antara, Saturday, December 31.

In an effort to restore the economy, the area most inhabited by the Uighur Muslim ethnic minority held a regional-level Winter Sports Week.

The first regional level event will be held starting Friday, December 30 at Jiangjunshan Ski Resort in Altay Prefecture. At least 1,035 athletes from 14 cities and prefectures in Xinjiang will compete in 117 race numbers.

According to Xu, his area has built 12 snow tourism routes, opened 84 ski areas, issued 50,000 food coupons, and held snow tourism promotions.

"We welcome tourists, both domestic and foreign, to vacation during winter," Xu said at a press briefing attended by local and foreign media crews.

The 2022 Winter Olympics, which took place in Beijing in February this year, have had a lucrative impact on Xinjiang.

"People around Jiangjunshan Ski Resort have turned their free time into a new economic opportunity. They opened shops, supermarkets, restaurants and drinking shops," he said.

Citing local government data in January, Xu said more than 20,000 people have now been employed in the winter tourism industry with an average revenue of 18,000 yuan (Rp40.6 million) per month.

"By building a better tourism sector, it can improve the local economy," he said accompanied by a spokesman for the Xinjiang Autonomy Regional Government, Ilijan Anayat.