China Seeks To Rebrand Xinjiang As Tourist Hub Amid Human Rights Criticism

In response to international criticism over human rights issues, China is now trying to market Xinjiang as a tourist destination, a move orchestrated and financed by the Xi Jinping administration, according to the Foreign Affairs & Security Minister of the East Turkistan Government in Exile on X.

China’s Foreign Ministry recently highlighted on X that Xinjiang saw substantial increases in tourism numbers and revenue during the first seven months of 2024. Meanwhile, the East Turkistan National Movement, which aims to shed light on human rights abuses against Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang, often critiques Beijing’s strategies, including its recent push to market Xinjiang as a tourist hotspot.

Salih Hudayar, a leading activist who has been vocal against China’s treatment of Uyghur Muslims, denounced this depiction.

In a post on X, Hudayar stated, “The genocidal Chinese regime is inundating East Turkistan with millions of Chinese tourists in a blatant attempt to obscure and whitewash its heinous campaign of colonisation, genocide, and occupation. This shameless facade is meant to hide the brutal suffering of millions of Uyghurs and other Turkic peoples. The international community must not be misled by China’s deceptive propaganda–China must be held accountable, and its brutal occupation, Uyghur genocide, and state terrorism in East Turkistan must end immediately.”

The term East Turkistan, historically used by various advocacy groups, refers to the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR). Reports indicate significant human rights abuses in Xinjiang, including the detention of over one million Uyghurs in what the Chinese government calls “re-education camps” or “vocational training centres,” which are officially framed as anti-extremism efforts.

There is also substantial evidence of cultural and religious suppression, including the destruction of Uyghur mosques and cemeteries and limitations on religious practices. The region is considered one of the most heavily surveilled areas globally, employing extensive facial recognition technology and various other forms of monitoring.

Numerous reports and satellite images have revealed the presence of large internment camps in Xinjiang. While the Chinese government labels these facilities as “re-education” camps, international observers and human rights organisations view them as detention centres.