Chapter 2230 - 2230: Freeways and Free Admission

Foreign journalists aren't particularly tricky, they're just highly professional and naturally humorous.

Asking questions to the Inflamed Man of the Great East Pot is a joy in itself, an extra pleasure outside of work.

The Inflamed Man in Great East Pot is probably one of the highest-risk professions in the world. Saying the wrong thing easily leads to some consequences.

But the routine press conferences in Wale Republic are much more relaxed, because there's no negativity, and the news Inflamed Man speaks matter-of-factly, saying what needs to be said without much cover-up, ambiguity, or mouthy victories. It's an easy job, focusing on openness and transparency, saying useful stuff instead of nonsense.

In this world, perhaps nonsense is the hardest thing to speak. Lies, however, are quite easy.

The easiest, of course, is telling the truth!

It's just that in Great East Pot, telling the truth is easy, but no one believes it, hahaha... Meanwhile, telling the truth for the news Inflamed Man easily results in getting a spanking.

When there's no freedom of speech, thoughts lose their soul. The Inflamed Men are soulless entities, whether you agree or not. Truth be told, it's a job, requiring effort to get through safely, to support the family, or to get promoted and make a fortune, haha...

Just like Liu Zhizhong, being president is a job, but not for supporting the family, it's for political ideals, for benefiting ordinary people.

If Liu Zhizhong doesn't serve as president, he'd be considered retired, and presidential retirement benefits are naturally indispensable, better than most people's.

Yet he pursues freedom, has his own ideas, which is perfectly normal. Like the second September Revolution, that's his ultimate dream, understand? Haha...

For the last Wale Lunar New Year, Liu Zhizhong chose to spend it with the people.

He went among ordinary folk, though with a security team, it was not large.

Though there were attendants, there were not many.

Including special vehicles, just three cars altogether, with total people under twelve.

As a young and vigorous president like him, there's no need for a following ambulance.

Not wasting a single penny of taxpayers' money, this idea is correct.

Liu Zhizhong went into ordinary households to have New Year's Eve dinner without prior arrangements, eating whatever he encountered; it's quite thrilling and approachable.

No reporters, no attendants followed indoors. Attendants resolved themselves outside, either going to a hotel or bringing their own meals.

This long Spring Festival holiday, Liu Zhizhong had a fulfilling time, mingling with the public while also attending to private life, visiting those he should, accompanying the children, missing none, hehe...

Presidents are also human, with emotions and desires, and Liu Zhizhong arranged everything properly, not preferring one over the other, evenly spread rain and dew, haha!

And throughout the Wale Republic, tourism indices during Lunar New Year were off the charts!

Wale local welcomed people from all over the world, reaching a historical peak of 6 million visits, isn't that scary?

And among them, a large portion came from the Great East Pot, celebrating the Spring Festival in Wale, becoming a trendy event, and a model of cross-border travel.

Wale domestic received profits beyond measure.

Wale's two enclaves also faced tourism peaks. Wale State welcomed nearly a million visits.

Po Sheng Province received 3 million visits, tourism has really developed. Some came for sightseeing, some for buying houses or investment inspections; anyway, they came to spend money, to consume.

Across the whole Wale territory, just during the New Year period, tourism income alone, including various aspects, directly broke through 100 billion US dollars, isn't that scary? But it's very normal, at least for Wale it's normal.

The world needs consumption, tourism, sightseeing, relaxation, and also some investment on the side, haha...

In contrast, Great East Pot's New Year travel still exists, just the earnings are questionable.

Yet in the past year, resident savings increased, but consumption indices couldn't be boosted.

Even for tourism, many people don't want to use the free highways, because it's too much congestion, disturbing.

Tourists spent less than before, whereas ticket prices kept rising.

All places charge entrance fees, each more expensive than the other.

Consequently, cloud tourism became the mainstream for Great East Pot's travel lifestyle. Lying at home, watching others stuck in traffic on highways, feeling delighted; seeing beautified videos of scenic spots, taking it as enjoying nature, not costing much data, at least less loss than getting ripped off at tourist sites, more comfortable, alas~~~

Just amongst highways and tickets, Great East Pot and Wale can't be compared.

Why?

Because in Liu Zhizhong's seven years as president, Wale's highways achieved nationwide full connectivity, forming a powerful land-based transportation network, and... all free!

My goodness...

Truly all free!

Moreover, the road quality is superb, designed for centennial quality. In reality, it's predicted to last two hundred years with no issue.

Some then say, highway investment is so costly, with such high quality, it's even more expensive. Some countries have shoddy roads threatening to collapse, and they charge high fees!

Your national highway network is so widespread, not charging, how's the investment recouped? Who pays the highway management staff's wages?

Sorry, Wale Republic has a different logic.

Free highways accelerate logistical connections and prosper transportation industries. Vehicle tax, fuel tax, transportation industry VAT, and expedited convenient tourism economic taxes, aren't they increased?

Free highways lead to superior economic development; can the return come or not?

And Wale national highway network managers are salaried civil servants, covered by national finance uniformly, like a drop in the ocean, haha...

Then, for tourism tickets, whether in Wale domestic or overseas enclaves, it's entirely free!

My goodness...

No tickets charged, do you understand?

Just some popular spots require advance booking, limiting entry numbers; once saturated, they aren't open to the public.

Tickets are a significant income source, regarded as the main revenue for Great East Pot's major scenic spots, but it's essentially useless, unable to compete with Wale's no admission charge.

No ticket charges attract more visitors, propelling tourism-related industries rapidly. Comparing internally and externally, no ticket charges instead boost revenue; this logic is so simple even a dog could learn it, yet some can't.

Clearly, before Po Sheng Province, some spots still charged visitors; but after becoming a Wale enclave, charges were lifted, and tourism economy surged dramatically.

Doing economics, especially tourism economics, if you can't calculate, you won't eat well, it's plain logic. Yet countries adept at copying can't replicate such practices.

However, as Liu Zhizhong's departure nears, perhaps some things might change? Hehe...