On September 15, the Ministry of Natural Resources, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and National Forestry and Grassland Administration jointly released a policy document titled "Guidance on Optimizing Natural Resource Allocation to Promote the Standardized and Orderly Development of the Tourism Industry." The directive introduces measures to improve the supply mechanism for natural resources, including a provision that allows multiple land parcels for a single tourism project to be managed as one integrated entity, with planning conditions set accordingly and permits issued lawfully.
For tourism developments that require the combined use of two or more categories of natural resource assets—such as land, minerals, oceans, and forests—within a defined territorial planning scope, local authorities can explore creating a bundled resource package. This package can be supplied in a single transaction once it meets all necessary conditions, to be operated as a whole.
The policy emphasizes strengthening spatial coordination for tourism growth by leveraging the foundational role of territorial spatial planning. It requires tourism-related space demands for the 15th Five-Year Plan period to be incorporated into the "One Map" system of natural resource management, alongside scientific site selection, provided that binding constraints such as the "three zones and three lines" are not breached. Detailed plans for scenic and historic areas will be integrated into the spatial planning framework, allowing for combined compilation with local detailed plans and approval by relevant authorities.
On land use regulation, the directive supports the layout of independent urban construction land in areas like gas stations, service areas, and courier stations outside urban development boundaries where they are needed for tourism in remote locations. Certain small-scale and temporary tourism facilities—including management offices, eco-friendly restrooms, elevated walkways, and simple RV campsites that do not harm tree growth or harden the ground—may retain their original land classification and be tracked through the "One Map" system, with compliance checks for forest and grassland use. Ecological tourism activities such as camping, hiking, sightseeing, study tours, and forest wellness are permitted outside core protected zones within ecological conservation red lines.
The guidance also calls for research into adding new land-use categories tailored to tourism development, applying differentiated management policies. Parks and scenic areas within urban central districts are to be fully counted in city park and green space indicators.
To encourage the use of existing space, local governments are urged to establish standards for identifying inefficient tourism land, conduct thorough assessments, and support integrated cultural, tourism, sports, and commercial development. Property owners can use existing buildings for cultural and tourism reception facilities without changing land use or ownership rights, and can apply for land procedures through negotiated agreements. Under a transitional policy, industrial land and old factory spaces used for cultural and tourism activities can retain their original use and rights for up to five years.
The directive stresses improved service and supervision, with local cultural and tourism departments strengthening project evaluation and natural resource authorities participating in early-stage checks to align projects with planning requirements. Tourism projects must undergo comprehensive feasibility assessments covering market risks, resource guarantees, and capital returns to prevent low-level duplication and avoid "image projects." Land use must strictly follow territorial planning, and the conversion of land for purposes such as villas, private estates, real estate, golf courses, theme parks, or replica ancient structures under the guise of tourism is strictly prohibited.