The 2016 Government Work Report, approved by the National People's Congress on Wednesday, promised to accelerate the construction of tourism infrastructure to welcome the coming of the tourism age.

"The tourism sector has for years been our favored investment field," said Zhang Xiaodong, managing director of Wuhan Modern Technology, a company based in Wuhan, the capital of Hubei province.

Having invested in several sectors, including pharmacy, real estate and cultural activities, the company has been eyeing tourism for years.

"As China's middle class grows, tourism will be an expanding market," said Zhang, who is also an NPC deputy.

The company was created in a merger with a tourism company in 2009. However, as the average family income in China continued to grow, it quickly found that the travel agency market was already full and there was little space for a newcomer.

"There are always market needs, and whoever can develop the best product to suit them wins," Zhang said. "You need to not only follow people's consumption habits, but also be creative in developing new products to boost consumption."

After careful studies and investigation, the company turned to a new mode - cooperating with managers of scenic spots to accelerate construction of infrastructure and entertainment facilities. It has already signed contracts with more than 50 scenic spots nationwide and last year invested more than 3 billion yuan ($462 million) in construction.

Zhang and his fellow managers believe that the market will be divided into small groups and it is the job of businesses to offer detailed services to each group. For that reason, it merged in July with Suzhou-based Full Color Ecological Tourism firm, which features ecological tourism. Qiandao Lake in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, is also under its management.

"While our competitors are busy attracting more people to travel via their agencies, we concentrate on letting tourists enjoy the best experiences in our managed scenic spots," he told China Daily. "Both meet the market demand, and we target more specific groups."

Tourism is only one of the future investment sectors of Wuhan Modern Technology, Zhang said, adding that the company will make more moves in the cultural and sport industry.

"We are confident in domestic tourism and other service sectors," Zhang said. "My advice for all entrepreneurs is to find what your targeted group needs and provide the best products and services to them."

zhangzhouxiang@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 03/17/2016 page5)