China expects 100 billion yuan (US$12 billion) of revenue from "red tourism," or visits to landmark sites in the development of the Communist Party of China (CPC), by 2010, according to details of a national program revealed Tuesday.

Launched by the general offices of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council last December, the program aims to speed up the growth of "red tourism" through 2010 to promote economic development and "national ethos."

It is also expected the project will directly employ 2 million people and indirectly employ 10 million people by 2010.

During the first phase, from 2004 to 2007, the focus is on establishing a preliminary "red tourism" framework based on 100 sites highlighting 30 tourist routes and 12 major zones. Infrastructure in these sites will be further enhanced to realize all-round development of "red tourism," the goal of the second phase, according to the program.

"Red tourism" destinations, including Jinggangshan Yan'an, Xibaipo and Taihang Mountains, are mostly in poor, land-locked areas, which served as bases of the CPC-led revolution.

An official with a national coordination group on promoting "red tourism," made up of people from ministries of the central government, said the project is also significant in the political and educational sense.

"It will help people review the rise of the CPC and the nation. There are abundant facts at these sites showing the Party and socialism are the choice of history and the people," said the official.

He said these "red tourism" sites, which bear witness to major phases in the rise of the CPC and the nation, the growth of leading political figures and the deeds of martyrs, would also help to infuse the great national ethos in the youngsters.

Collective student visits are free of charge and individual student visits are half the normal price, according to the program.

More than 150 major "red tourism" sites in 13 provinces and municipalities hosted 20 million visitors in 2004. During the weeklong Spring Festival that started on Feb. 9 this year, Yan'an in Shaanxi Province received 110,000 domestic and overseas visitors.

Businesses and social organizations have been encouraged to participate in the project.

(Xinhua News Agency February 24, 2005)