Facts of numerous surveys indicate that the location of
tourism resources is highly overlapped with
poverty stricken areas,it is particularly so for ecotourism resources.Because those areas are always remote and under developed in mass transportation system,and less impacted by human economic activities and cultural intrusion,the natural environments and ethical culture have been kept in a good condition and served as a major tourist feature attracting an increasing number of visitors.Therefore,integrating
poverty alleviation activities into the
framework of
tourism development is one of the most effective ways for alleviating poverty in those areas.However,neither international communities nor Chinese government,have paid enough attention to impacts of tourism development on poverty elimination.The following issues are fully addressed in this paper:(a)Some 592 severely poverty stricken counties in China possess extremely plentiful of tourism resources,where is the major field for implementing the Eight Seven Poverty Alleviation programme by central government.(b)The 592 poverty striken counties are mainly located in the middle and west part of China,where holds the greatest growth potential of Chinas future tourism economy but less potential in agricultural development and fragile environment.The suggestion is made for Chinese central government to take the integration of poverty alleviation with tourism development into the Project of Western Chinas Development.(c)Tourism industry has advantages over other economic sectors in relation to poverty alleviation.(d)It is suggested to build Chinas
Pro Poor Tourism Strategy,and the relevant strategic measures at policy and planning framework level for developing pro poor tourism in China are pointed out in order to alleviate poverty in middle and west part of China through tourism development as soon as possible.