A 16-member group from the China Xinjiang Tourism Promotion Bureau has started a tour to the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Iran and Turkey in preparation for a large-scale tourist promotion service of the Middle East.

Chi Chongqing, the head of the promotion group and director of Xinjiang Tourism Bureau, says that this activity is organized by the Xinjiang Autonomous Government and it will be followed by a larger promotion. The China National Tourism Administration is planning a much larger promotion in the Middle East next year.

The aim of the ongoing promotion is to study and explore the market of targeted tourists and attract more tourists from the Middle East to Xinjiang, and collect information for the Chinese coming to Middle East in the future. Xinjiang is a largely Muslim area in northwest China.

Zhang Xin, president of the Xinjiang International Travel Agency, said, "Several countries in the Middle East are Muslim countries, so tourists of Xinjiang may take a look of the situation there and know how they are leading their lives."