Super Zoo

3A scenic area... Suming's first reaction was disdain as he pursed his lips, feeling as if their entire level had been brought down.

Among the numerous tourist spots in the country, the well-known ones are basically 5A scenic areas, which are a dime a dozen, and even many 4A ones are unheard of. The zoo has been bustling for so long, and only now does it just qualify for 3A?

But Suming was still somewhat dissatisfied. This 3A scenic area seemed a bit mediocre, practically no different from not applying for a rating at all.

"You have to eat one bite at a time, and walk step by step; if you take too big a step, you might 'pull a muscle'," Wang Jian She was in a good mood and even cracked a rather common joke over the phone.

Indeed, there are many 4A and 5A scenic spots, several hundred nationwide.

But that doesn't mean that 4A or 5A ratings are easy to achieve. It's easy to be envious of others, but when it comes to ourselves, to compare Yangchuan City Zoo with those 5A scenic areas, we really fall short.

Just to give a few examples, those that have been rated 4A or 5A have advantages that the zoo currently cannot match.

Some are relics of Huaxia's civilization, like the Forbidden City for instance, which encapsulates thousands of years of Huaxia civilization, the efforts of countless people, and the home of generations of emperors. Strictly speaking, it's more than just a scenic spot; it's a heavy accumulation of history;

Some are natural marvels crafted by the great outdoors, such as Mount Huangshan of the Five Sacred Mountains and several large inland lakes, natural wonders formed over millions of years, places where the essence of heaven and earth converge, famous since ancient times and the source of many legends. Besides their natural significance, massive human and material resources have also been invested for development;

Of course, there are also a small number of 5A sites that have only appeared in recent years, created by human effort. Such places are often the economic pillar of a region, receiving substantial support, whereas the zoo, despite its surging economic benefits, is far from being an economic pillar of Yangchuan City. There are also those that have had a huge amount of investment and have already formed well-known brands, like Disneyland Park as an example. Although not known for their long history, they're famous the world over. Any city's Disneyland, for instance, calculates its investment in terms of 'billions'. How can Yangchuan City Zoo compare? Even if the entire zoo was up for sale, it would barely be a fraction of Disneyland Ocean Park.

Speaking just of zoos, there are no 5A zoos in the nation, the highest being 4A.

Thinking this way, Suming felt much more balanced in his heart.

Being designated as a 3A scenic area, although not high-profile, does bring tangible benefits.

Once a rating is assigned, it improves the effect of external promotion. For instance, if a family plans to travel without knowing much, between a 5A scenic area and an unknown spot, most people would definitely choose the 5A.

Of course, the higher the rating, the better the effect; a 5A's promotional impact is certainly stronger than a 3A's, but generally speaking, a 3A is definitely better than having no rating at all.

At the same time, famous scenic spots become the local tourism card. The higher the grade, the more government support is provided in terms of infrastructure construction, tax subsidies, and promotional efforts.

For a simple example, if the zoo is rated 5A, the city government may very well build a major road directly from the airport or train station to the zoo. If it's managed well, the next time the station or airport needs rebuilding, they might even prioritize the area around the zoo for the location.

If you want to get rich, build roads first! This is especially true for tourist attractions. Forcing Suming to pay for the construction of several kilometers or even dozens of kilometers of standard roads—not to mention whether it's policy-permitted—the economic cost alone could half kill him.@@novelbin@@

"Su, you should pay attention to the issue of the scenic area rating. The city is undergoing economic development and transformation. Yangchuan City, being next to the river and mountains, will eventually see tourism becoming a significant economic pillar," Wang Jian She solemnly advised.

Using the power of the entire city to support a scenic area is not uncommon in the country. Many places have been developed through tourism, such as Lijiang Ancient Town which was originally a backward area. After vigorously developing tourism, it became a famous scenic area known nationwide and even globally within a few years, supporting the local economy.

"First apply for 3A, and then in the future, applying for 4A, 5A will naturally follow. For the specific application process, I'll have He get in touch with you," Wang Jian She said.

'He' refers to the Director He who had visited Zhou Jin in the hospital and whom Zhou Jin thought he could rely on to handle Suming; but He had not paid any attention to Zhou Jin. Later with Wang Jian She's promotion, he took over Wang's duties and was recently assigned to the Bureau of Tourism as the bureau chief.

"I will definitely cooperate with Mr. He," Suming said cheerfully.

Not even two hours after ending the call with Wang Jian She, Mr. He from the Bureau of Tourism personally arrived with his secretary. As soon as he entered, He greeted Suming with a smile and warmly shook hands with him.

This left Suming somewhat startled. Even if the zoo hadn't restructured, he was of lower rank than He and should have been the one to greet him.

"Director, please come this way, have a seat in my office,"

In the director's office at the end of the hallway, Suming brewed a cup of tea for Mr. He and said cheerfully, "Mr. He, why have you come personally? For the application, you could have just called, and we would have cooperated fully."

"When Mr. Wang was at the bureau, he was very concerned about your zoo, and I also learned a lot about you guys. I've wanted to come see it with my own eyes for a while. To be honest, the zoo's development this past year has been quite astonishing; no wonder Mr. Wang valued you so highly. Now your zoo is a well-known entity. I wouldn't dare speak for other departments, but in our Bureau of Tourism, Yangchuan City Zoo is definitely a major focus of our work, so it's quite normal for me to come in person," He said with a smile.

"You can rest assured, Director, the zoo will fully support the work of the Bureau of Tourism and won't let you down," Suming nodded and said.

"I'm not worried about that. Everyone says Mr. Su is capable of creating miracles, and performance is the best proof, isn't it? My main purpose this time is to assist with the preparation of the materials for the 3A application. The zoo should expedite the process, so we can clinch it by the end of the year and aim for a 4A next year," He stated.

"Can't we apply for 4A directly?" Suming asked, testing the waters.

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Although he knew that having achieved a 3A rating was already quite good, Suming still felt it was a bit unsatisfying, like something flavorless that was regrettable to discard. Nationwide, there are plenty of 3A and even 4A scenic areas. The zoo couldn't hope for a 5A just yet, but if possible, to save this time and effort, it would be great to get a 4A directly.