A guest uses virtual reality goggles to view a panda-themed promotional video at the United Nations World Tourism Organization's 22nd General Assembly in Chengdu, Sichuan province, on Monday.[Photo by Hao Fei/For China Daily]

Poverty reduction using new models praised; travel sector grows to 11% of nation's economy

China is a good example of how a country can develop a healthy tourism industry, industry insiders said.

"China is one of the best examples of how tourism can be prioritized to show its potential, with themes such as rural poverty reduction," said Taleb Rifai, secretary-general of the United Nations World Tourism Organization.

The organization is holding its 22nd General Assembly in Chengdu, Sichuan province, this week. It is the second time the biennial meeting has been held in China. It ends on Saturday.

Major topics include smart tourism, tourism and sustainable development, and the Belt and Road Initiative and tourism cooperation. The World Tourism Alliance will be set up during the meeting with the aim of deepening tourism cooperation among members and facilitating sustainable development of the industry worldwide.

China has been the top source of tourism spending, and is the fourth-most-visited country, he said. It also has the largest domestic tourism market, with 4.4 billion trips inside China and tourism income reaching $600 billion last year.