China 2011
Another beautiful day in Beijing – this much clear weather is rare…
“Tour packages to red tourism spots have become increasingly popular this year. The whole market has been stimulated by the enthusiasm to commemorate the Party’s birthday.”
Guo Yi, China Comfort Travel
“The promotion of red tourism will become more of a market role than a government role.”
Song Ziqian, senior policy researcher, China Tourism Academy
These are quotes from two articles in the China Daily this morning, part of the continuing coverage of the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese Community Party. They are striking in two ways: first, they conflate and confound the old distinction between communism and capitalism as the difference between a planned economy and a free market economy. Both quotes note how “red tourism” – tourists seeking out important sites in the 20th century history of the Communist Party – has become an important and growing segment of the free market economy. Continue Reading