A roundtable conversation about developing Pingtan into an international tourism destination is held in Pingtan, Fujian province on June 13 during the 5th Common Homeland Forum. [Photo/ptnet.cn]

A roundtable conversation about developing Pingtan into an international tourism destination was held in Pingtan, Fujian province on June 13 during the 5th Common Homeland Forum.

Many attendees from the mainland and Taiwan expressed their ideas about Pingtan's tourism development and prominent industry insiders gave keynote addresses.

Here are some of the highlights from the experts' speeches.

Lin Jianxian (President of Hsinchu Youth Affairs Association): using its history and culture to promote tourism

Pingtan has had a raft of preferential policies as an external driving force for its tourism sector. What it needs now is an internal one such as its history and culture, featuring its landforms, sea, and stone folk dwellings, which are waiting for developers.

Chen Junlin (Secretary General of Taiwan Youth Exchange Association of Creative Industry): learning from Taiwan's Penghu development model

Taiwan's Penghu has a similar climate as Pingtan, cold in winter, but cool in summer. Penghu uses its advantages in summer and holds a fireworks festival from April to June, attracting lots of visitors.

Pingtan can follow this model to establish a golden tourism season, making its summer travel distinctive and appealing.

Cao Caiji (Official of Taiwan Youth Association): developing Pingtan into a resort for cross-Straits tourists

With unique marine tourism resources and a favorable location close to Taiwan, Pingtan can turn itself into a tourism resort, attracting visitors from both the mainland and Taiwan.

Lin Wenqin (Professor at Department of Architecture and Urban Planning of Chung Hua University): exploring underwater tourism resources

Pingtan has a great advantage in ecological tourism, which features rich natural resources, good infrastructure, and a well-preserved environment. It may become more appealing if its underwater tourism resources can be discovered. For instance, it can develop nearby sunken ship sites into scenic spots, attracting visitors and establishing a diving industry.

Li Huangmin (Director General of Taiwan Rice Association): adding new vitality to Pingtan's stone folk dwellings

Stone folk dwellings, which date back more than 100 years, are unique tourism resources in Pingtan worth developing and being introduced to the world.

Pingtan can learn from Taiwan's experience and turn the old dwellings into culture-featured homestays through some renovation, bringing them back to life.

Zhang Miao (Head of business division of National Tourism Products Research Center): focusing on both tourism development and cultural protection

Tourism development and cultural protection are both top priorities for Pingtan, as original ecology and culture are main features of its tourism. The area also needs to hold more cultural creation activities, sports events, forums and symposiums to increase its national exposure.

Cai Wuzhang (President of Taiwan Jianong Agricultural Development Fund): developing rural tourism

Pingtan can take advantage of its marine resources and develop rural tourism. It also can enhance tourism exchanges with Taiwan, learning from Taiwan's successes in developing rural tourism.