BEIJING — Operating revenue of China's rural tourism sector exceeded 850 billion yuan (about $130 billion) in 2019, adding impetus to the country's push for rural vitalization and agricultural and rural modernization.

A total of 3.3 billion trips were made to rural areas last year, said Zeng Yande, an official with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, at a forum on the development of rural tourism in the new era, which was held on Dec 5.

Zeng said that rural tourism is expected to become a major industry in the economy in two to three years.

In recent years, rural industries have registered rapid growth, and the business environment for innovation and entrepreneurship has also improved, according to the forum.

More than 8.5 million people returned or moved to the countryside last year to start businesses or work in innovative businesses, while the number of agricultural e-commerce firms exceeded 30,000.

To achieve the goal of eradicating absolute poverty, China has pledged to prioritize the development of agriculture and rural areas, and to fully advance rural vitalization in its new development stage.