Tourists seek winter sun on southern island
Print Edition
AS winter’s chill bites, thousands of people are flocking to a south China island to get away from the bitter cold, helping boost local economic growth.
“Many fellow fishermen have chosen to open guest houses instead of fishing — thanks to the number of tourists,” said Liu Lin, a fisherman-turned-hotel-owner on Weizhou Island, south of Beihai City in south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.
“Houniaoren” — or “migratory people” — head to the island in winter because of its warm temperatures and breathtaking landscape. They make up 65 percent of visitors to the volcanic island.
There are now more than 30 hotels on the island, compared to a mere four a decade ago.
Liu’s hotel is a family business. Established in 2011 with his four brothers, it not only provides accommodation, but also kitchens, where guests can cook their own food.
Self-catering accommodation is especially popular among guests because they get to experience the lifestyle of fishermen, while not being overcharged, Liu said.
Zhao Bin, from the northeastern Jilin Province, is among those who have migrated south for some winter sun in Weizhou.
As well as sunshine and fresh air, he said he enjoys bargaining with vendors in the bustling fish market.
“We can buy whatever we want, and then cook it in the hotel, which is fun,” he said.
Tourists are increasingly helping fuel the economic engine on the island.
According to official statistics, tourist figures surged 46.5 percent to 573,000 in Weizhou last year — with total tourism revenue reaching 370 million yuan (US$61.05 million).
Local fishermen’s annual incomes are now close to 30,000 yuan, compared to a little over 2,000 yuan in 2001.
According to the local tourism administration committee, in the first four days of the weeklong Chinese New Year holiday, which ended on Thursday, at least 22,000 tourists visited the island. But the growing popularity of Beihai is creating headaches for the local authorities.
Weizhou is grappling with problems like traffic jams, litter and water pollution, said Yi Qiubo, captain of Weizhou’s traffic police brigade.
“Inadequate transport facilities are our biggest headache,” Yi said.
The local government is now spending on road construction, a hospital and on improving the island’s waterworks infrastructure.
A project to treat garbage and sewage water is also under construction on the island, Yi added.
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