Evaluation of the alternative tourism potential of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region

After the "West China Development" (Xi Bu Da Kai Fa) project entered into force, the policy of the region has been in the forefront within the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, one of the largest provinces of the People's Republic of China, while it has developed and continues to evolve in many areas (such as economy, industry, trade, technology, education, development, employment, foreign investment, internal and foreign policy). By improving the existing conditions of the region while adapting to today's conditions, the aim is to make the region more developed, where its future is brighter. Within the existing policies of the revival of the economy, improvement and develop of the tourism sector, which is one of the main arteries of commerce, is intended. In this study; firstly, the underground and mineral resources of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region are examined by briefly informing on the region's climate, geographical and administrative structure. Afterwards; the state of tourism and the touristic potential of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region has been evaluated by analyzing the region's economy and the sectors affecting the economy. In the last stage; through examining the region's alternative tourism areas and policies for alternative tourism development, a SWOT analysis has been conducted by determining the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region's alternative tourism. Also, strategies have been made via TOWS for the elimination of weaknesses present within the policies for alternative tourism and for turning threats into opportunities. Keywords: Tourism, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Alternative Tourism, SWOT and TOWS analysis.