China’s northernmost Heilongjiang province will leverage all its formidable array of natural  advantages -- due to its pristine geographical location and climatic conditions -- to develop its popular winter tourism, according to a news conference held by the provincial government on Aug 3.
 
Officials gave details about the Heilongjiang Province Tourism Development Master Plan (2020-2030) and the Heilongjiang Province Ice and Snow Tourism Industry Development Plan (2020-2030).

Compiled by the Heilongjiang Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism and the World Tourism Organization, officials said they have basically been completed and will be issued and implemented in the near future.

Under the plans, Heilongjiang will be transformed into an international ice and snow tourist resort.

It will focus on developing new ice and snow tourism products and work to improve the experience, participation and entertainment of winter tourists in the province.

It will create five four-season tourist destinations that meet the needs of international tourists and build five flagship ice and snow tourism scenic spots that operate throughout the year.

The plans propose that by 2030, the number of ice and snow tourists visiting the province should exceed 200 million, and the income from ice and snow tourism should exceed 200 billion yuan ($28.65 billion).

Harbin, capital city of Heilongjiang province, will be a key city in Heilongjiang’s ice and snow tourism development plan.