AUTHORITIES promote the use of recreational vehicles for taking vacations in the country

    The China National Tourism Administration, with 10 other ministries and commissions, recently released a series of guidelines to assist the development of these forms of travel.

    The guidelines set a goal of building 2,000 campgrounds, as well as developing popular itineraries and destinations for domestic road trips by 2020.

    The ministries and commissions involved include land and resources, environmental protection, housing and urban development, as well as transportation.

    Peng Decheng, an official from the tourism administration, said the guidelines are drawn up against a backdrop that driving and recreational vehicles are becoming increasingly favorable choices for Chinese tourists.

    Statistics from the tourism administration showed that almost 60 percent of the trips made by Chinese tourists last year were road trips, including the use of recreational vehicles.

    But gaps exist between the development of these forms of travel in China and in developed countries, Peng said.

    There are 18 million recreational vehicles around the world, though only 30,000 are in China. Meanwhile, China only has 463 campgrounds, about 3 percent of the number in the United States. (China Daily)