Pingtan, an island city situated in East China's Fujian province, is to build itself into a world-renowned tourist destination, an eco-tourism demonstration area as well as an opening window to the world, Pingtan Times reported on Sept 8.

According to the plan recently released by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), by 2025, Pingtan will have become an international tourism island, a magnet for tourists from both Chinese mainland and Taiwan.

The plan also points to the central government rolling out a series of preferential policies to support the international island's construction.

The preferential income tax policy already enforced in the Pingtan Comprehensive Pilot Zone is expected to expand to the tourism industry.

The central and Fujian provincial governments will allocate special funds to promote the zone's infrastructure, ecological construction, as well as tourism industry development. Enterprises will also be encouraged to adopt the model of public-private partnership (PPP) to invest in the tourism project.

Pingtan will streamline local entry and exit procedures, allowing foreigners to apply for port visas at Pingtan port. It will also open up its low-altitude airspace to encourage flight tours, and maritime space to offer greater convenience for foreign ships berthed at the port.

In addition, a regional equity market geared to small and medium-sized Taiwan-funded enterprises is likely to be established in the zone.

Pingtan is located in a pivotal position in the newly established water-railway intermodal transportation route connecting Taiwan and Europe, which links the ancient Silk Road with the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.