Beijing plans to open management of some 300-plus tourist spots to foreign investors.

The Beijing Tourism Bureau urged foreign institutions to take part in the design, reconstruction and management of the city's commercial tourist sites, a local newspaper quoted Wen Ziji, vice-director of the bureau, as saying.

Wen said foreign investors can either bid for projects released or meet directly with the current management of each site.

Li Zhi, an official with the bureau, told China Daily that the move is part of the city's tourism development plan in preparation for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

Li said detailed information about the move will be disclosed next week at the 2004 Beijing International Workshop on Hotel Development.

At the workshop, Wen will unveil the city's tourism development plan which contains a series of opening-up moves, said Li.

But he refused to give any further information.

According to the news report, the municipal tourism bureau is working with other government organs to select 30 places of interest from the 300-plus spots as the first batch to be opened to foreign funds.

There are no strict requirements on the scope and experience of foreign companies who have interest in funding Chinese tourism spots, and there is no bottom line of the amount of investment, either, said Wen.

He said the current management will be able to negotiate with foreign companies directly on investment amount, terms and management style.

The government will not play a role in their co-operation.

"But the government will work out a general guideline on related international bidding," said Wen.

Scenic spots for public service and "nongjiale" - a newly developed tourist package idea involving living in farm house and eating local food - are not included, said Wen.

"Among the 300-plus commercial scenic spots, there are some places of cultural relics under State or city protection. And some of the others also contain a number of cultural heritage items. As to these places, the opening of management is selective," said Wen.

Wu Bihu, an expert in regional tourism design, said the city has invited a number of foreign companies in the hotel sector, but co-operation in tourism spots is almost zero.

He said the management of quite a number of tourism spots is poor, and most of the facilities are outdated.

"The introduction of foreign funds into scenic spots will not only upgrade their management level but also improve the appearance of the capital city," said Wu, who is also a professor of environment at Peking University.

Besides the coming opening up of tourist spots, Beijing has already opened the doors to foreign funds at travel agencies.

(China Daily November 5, 2004)