Lvwei Cultural Tourism: Application, Evaluation, and Management of National Tourist Resorts!

Lvwei Introduction: National tourist resorts are a golden signboard and a brand for industrial transformation and upgrading. In recent years, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism has vigorously promoted the quality improvement, expansion, and upgrading of national tourist resorts. As of now, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism has designated 45 national resorts. The construction and development of national tourist resorts are of great significance for optimizing the structure of tourism products, guiding the development of national leisure and vacation tourism, and promoting the transformation and upgrading of the tourism industry. So, how do you apply, evaluate, and manage a national tourist resort? Lvwei Cultural Tourism provides a detailed interpretation.

In order to earnestly implement the requirements of the "Opinions of the State Council on Accelerating the Development of the Tourism Industry" (Guo Fa [2009] No. 41), the "Opinions of the State Council on Promoting the Reform and Development of the Tourism Industry" (Guo Fa [2014] No. 31), and the "Outline for National Leisure and Tourism (2013-2020)" which proposes "actively developing leisure and vacation tourism and orderly advancing the development of national tourist resorts," and in accordance with the deployment of the 2015 National Tourism Work Conference, the National Tourism Administration decided to carry out the evaluation of national tourist resorts based on the national standard "Classification of Tourist Resorts" to guide and standardize the development of tourist resorts.

In December 2019, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism issued the "Measures for the Management of National Tourist Resorts" to further standardize the recognition and management of national tourist resorts and promote high-quality development of tourist resorts.

As of December 2020, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism has designated 45 national resorts.

01. Evaluation basis documents, departments, and conditions

Guiding ideology and principles: The recognition and management of national tourist resorts adhere to Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, put the people at the center, promote socialist core values, improve the development level of leisure and vacation tourism, and promote the transformation and upgrading of the tourism industry.

Evaluation department: The recognition and management of provincial tourist resorts are the responsibility of provincial cultural and tourism administrative departments. The specific work of recognizing and managing national tourist resorts is undertaken by the Resource Development Department of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

Evaluation basis: The national standard "Classification of Tourist Resorts" (GB/T 26358-2010), the "Detailed Rules for the Classification of Tourist Resorts" (May 2015), and the "Measures for the Management of National Tourist Resorts."

To apply for a national tourist resort, the following materials must be submitted to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism through the provincial cultural and tourism administrative department:

02. Evaluation standards for national tourist resorts

A national tourist resort must first meet the "mandatory indicators for the classification of tourist resorts," and then be scored using the "scoring table for the classification of tourist resorts." The "Classification of Tourist Resorts (GB/T 26358-2010)" includes 9 mandatory indicators and 6 general conditions.

"Detailed Rules 1" - Preliminary evaluation scoring rules for tourist resort classification: used for the basic evaluation of tourist resorts, including mandatory indicators and comprehensive evaluation of resources, environment, and vacation products.

"Detailed Rules 2" - Comprehensive evaluation scoring rules for tourist resort classification: used for on-site inspection of tourist resorts, conducting comprehensive evaluations of location and regional foundation, environment and vacation resources, functions and vacation products, supporting facilities and services, market structure and image, and management and service quality.

03. Evaluation process for national tourist resorts

The creation of a national tourist resort goes through eight steps: self-inspection, application, recommendation, document review, basic evaluation, on-site inspection, public announcement, and certification. National tourist resorts are generally selected from provincial tourist resorts, and each province has its own evaluation regulations.

Self-inspection is conducted according to the national standard "Classification of Tourist Resorts" (GB/T 26358-2010) and related detailed rules.

After passing self-inspection, the resort submits step by step an application report, the "Report on the Application for Classification of Tourist Resorts," and creation materials.

For provincial tourist resorts that pass the preliminary evaluation, the provincial tourist resort classification management agency submits a recommendation opinion to the "Resource Development Department of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism."

- Document review

The "Resource Development Department of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism" is responsible for the review, which includes the resort name, scope, management agency, rules and regulations, development plan, and related information of the resort.

- Basic evaluation

The Ministry of Culture and Tourism organizes an expert review team to conduct basic evaluations of tourist resorts that have passed document review, according to the basic evaluation scoring rules for tourist resort classification.

- On-site inspection

Experts or third-party institutions are organized to conduct on-site inspections of tourist resorts that have passed basic evaluation in the form of unannounced visits, according to the comprehensive evaluation scoring rules for tourist resort classification.

Tourist resorts that have passed on-site inspection are reviewed. If necessary, a defense session may be arranged to determine the list for public announcement. The determined list will be announced on the government portal website of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism for 5 working days.

For those with no objections or where objections are not upheld, a recognition announcement will be issued, and certificates and plaques will be awarded.

Supervision and management of national tourist resorts

- National tourist resorts that receive a notice of criticism shall promptly and earnestly carry out rectification, with a rectification period generally not exceeding one year. After the rectification period expires, the provincial cultural and tourism administrative department shall report to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism for inspection and acceptance. Those that pass inspection will receive a notice of rectification approval; those that fail will have their classification revoked by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

- National tourist resorts that have their classification revoked shall not apply for national tourist resort classification within three years from the date of revocation.

- The Ministry of Culture and Tourism may revoke the classification of a national tourist resort under the following circumstances:

- The Ministry of Culture and Tourism may issue a notice of criticism and require rectification within a time limit for a national tourist resort under the following circumstances:

- Support policies

The Ministry of Culture and Tourism supports national tourist resorts in strengthening tourism infrastructure construction, tourism public services, brand building, and image promotion through various channels and means.

Local cultural and tourism administrative departments at all levels are encouraged to coordinate with relevant departments to provide support and services to national tourist resorts in terms of land use, financial support, talent introduction, and publicity and promotion, creating a favorable environment for the construction and development of tourist resorts.

Compared to the 2012 evaluation standards, the 2015 standards are more scientific and systematic, mainly reflected in the following aspects:

- Changes in the detailed rules system

(1) 2015 - The detailed rules system is more detailed, including two sets of detailed rules.

Detailed Rules 1: Basic evaluation (mandatory indicators + comprehensive evaluation table for resources, environment, and vacation products)

Detailed Rules 2: Comprehensive evaluation (comprehensive evaluation scoring rules + visitor questionnaire)

(2) 2012 - Mandatory indicators + one set of evaluation rules + visitor questionnaire

- Changes in the scoring system

(1) 2015 - Mandatory indicators + Detailed Rules 1 comprehensive evaluation table (100 points) + Detailed Rules 2 scoring (1000 points)

(2) 2012 - Mandatory indicators + evaluation summary table (full score 2000 points)

- Changes in mandatory indicator content

(1) No environmental pollution, international brand and standard resort hotels, and tourism safety accidents were proposed for the first time

(2) More scientific vacation market segmentation, reception scale, and reduced real estate proportion

- Changes in evaluation items

(1) Vacation products and facilities are newly added as major items

(2) More comprehensive and detailed requirements for reception facilities

(3) Emphasis on service quality

(4) Smart resorts are included as bonus points, emphasizing Internet + tourism

In summary, the 2015 evaluation standards present four characteristics:

First, systematic scientificity - the evaluation system and standards are more comprehensive, detailed, and scientific.

Second, core emphasis on vacation products and facilities - pollution-free environment of the resort, richness of themed products, and quality of reception facilities are the core of tourist resort construction.

Third, market segmentation - market positioning shifts to mass vacation, and tourism market segmentation is clearer.

Fourth, modern management - smart tourist resorts, tourism safety system construction, and quality service system.

For over ten years, Lvwei Cultural Tourism has conducted extensive research and development work on vacation tourism, forming a wealth of tourist resort project cases, and can provide comprehensive services for the creation and application of resorts in various regions.