Another 11 new poverty alleviation projects for the tourism industry to lend a helping hand were identified in Baotou city, in North China’s Inner Mongolia autonomous region, according to local officials.

They said that took the total number of tourism industry poverty alleviation projects to 28.

In accordance with the city’s strategic plan to lift its indigent out of penury -- and accelerate targeted poverty alleviation work in the tourism industry -- Baotou’s bureau of culture, tourism, radio and television carried out the identification work.

The bureau nominated the latest in what it calls Baotou Tourism Industry Poverty Alleviation Bases.

The bases will aim to increase the incomes of poor households through tourism sector product purchases, employment and other means.

Officials said the latest projects have further broadened the tourism sector’s activities in poverty alleviation and they added that the industry is playing an important role in stimulating economic development in impoverished areas.

Moving forwards, the bureau will further guide the development of the tourism industry towards poverty-stricken areas.

Officials said it will establish a mechanism for linking with the interests of neighboring poor villages and poor households in such areas as developing agritourism.

Relying on the development of cultivation and breeding, catering and accommodation, production and sales of special tourist commodities in scenic spots, the operating incomes of poor areas is expected to improve substantially, officials added.