THE Shenzhen Municipal Tourism Bureau unveiled a plan at an expert appraisal seminar Monday (August 22nd). The plan shows Shenzhen striving to make itself a major tourism destination in the Asia-Pacific region and the world.

Shenzhen will further its cooperation with Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Province, magnets for mainlanders, and popular foreign tourists' destinations like Yangshuo and Guilin to attract more tourists from home and abroad.

According to the plan, Shenzhen is expected to become a world-level seaside resort just like Pattaya of Thailand.

Its business center is planned to be a shopping paradise like Manhattan of New York.

The western part will be a natural resort combined with its rich cultural elements and historic legends like Sydney of Australia and Venice of Italy.

The plan includes three phases. During the first five years from 2005 to 2009, the bureau will promote the long-term plan, urge each district to finish its overall planning, conduct feasibility studies or make construction plans for major tourism projects.

The second stage, from 2010 to 2015, is expected to finish the construction or rebuilding of key scenic spots, such as water sports bases and the Huaqiangbei business area, and at the same time set up more four- or five-star hotels on the outskirts of the city.

Shenzhen will try to perfect its tourism destinations like Sanzhoutian reservoir and at the same time maintain the high-quality service and green environment so as to make itself a worldwide tourism destination in 2015 to 2020.

Editor: Wing