Officials from Jianyin government speak at a conference on developing a demonstration area for "all-for-one tourism" in Jiangyin of Wuxi, Jiangsu province on Nov 29. [Photo/We Chat Jiangyin Report]

Jiangyin government hosted a conference on building a demonstration area for "all-for-one tourism" on Nov 29.

It is the first conference organized by the local government on tourism development with the sole purpose of building Jiangyin as an "all-for-one tourism" destination in Wuxi.

The idea of "all-for-one tourism" was first mentioned in this year's government work report. Based on the present situation of tourism industry development, the new planning concept is to guide the transformation and upgrading of tourist destinations in the country.

Jiangyin has been developing its tourism industry since 1990s, making it an excellent national tourism city and an international rural tourism destination.

A total of 23.74 million tourists visited Jiangyin's scenic spots in 2016, a 29.5 percent increase since 2011, bringing a total tourism income of 26 billion yuan ($3.9 billion), a 68.6 percent increase from 2011, according to government statistics.

Jiangyin city intends to build a tourism brand based on Xu Xiake town, the former residence of a famous geographer traveler, and writer Xu Xiake (1587-1641).

The city will focus on four high-quality tourist routes – tour around the city, along Yangtze River, inside downtown and in the Xu Xiake town.

More than eight tourism introduction events will be held every year, including International Xu Xiake Tourism Festival and literary award event of Diary of the Travels of Xu Xiakes.

Another policy focus will be on "tourism plus", China's drive to stimulate innovation in traditional industries such as tourism through the integration of cutting-edge new digital technology.

Jiangyin city will focus on altering public toilets along the tourism routes, in a move to rebrand Jiangyin as a culturally developed tourist city.