Lei Hong, a deputy to the 13th National People's Congress and chairman of Guilin Literary Performances. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Lei Hong, a deputy to the 13th National People's Congress and chairman of Guilin Literary Performances, submitted an NPC motion during the two sessions held in Beijing from Mar 5 to 10 that the country shall offer more support to Guilin in stimulating consumption and cultural development. 

Guilin enjoys adequate tourism resources and is suitable to be built into a central world-class global tourism consumption city. The city now has one duty-free shop and 10 for international departure tax refunds. The number of 4A-level scenic areas in Guilin now stands at 46 while the number of 5A-level ones is four.

The city is the first city in Guangxi to establish friendship-city relationships with overseas cities and now has inked deals with 11 global cities. 

Guilin's weak economic base, according to Lei, results in a relatively low consumption environment and a lack of cultural, sports, and entertainment products with global features, preventing the city from fully activating the spending desires of the countless tourists who visit each year.

She noted that Guilin can learn from Hainan by setting up duty-free shops for visitors leaving the city and striving to be included in the China (Guangxi) Pilot Free Trade Zone.

Guilin shall gain more support in undertaking international cultural communication events featuring elements such as film, music, art, opera and photography.

A batch of high-quality routes featuring sports tourism are expected to be built and the global influence of international extreme sports events such as marathons, rafting and rock climbing will be further promoted.