A deep understanding of the intrinsic requirements of tourism development road with Chinese characteristics and an in-depth discussion on the position and function of tourism in the new era is important to promote the high-quality development of the tourism industry continuously and the realization of the development goal of a strong tourism nation. The article argues that: (1) the tourism development road with Chinese characteristics is featured by a people-centered development concept, a compatible industry position that is aligned with the stage of socio-economic development, a development strategy that is integrated into the overall national strategy, a policy mechanism that effectively guides the market, as well as a comprehensive development with in-depth fusion of culture and tourism, regional complementation and collaboration, green and low-carbon industry chain, and two-way international and domestic cycle. (2) The position of tourism industry in the new era should be extended from a single dimension to multi-dimension, including people's aspirations for a better life, high-quality socio-economic development, the spiritual home of the nation and the image of the country, and the mutual learning among civilizations. (3) The core symbols of a strong tourism country include the capacities of strong industrial supply, cultural transformation, comprehensive innovation, supply-side reform, market governance, and ecological governance, for which efforts should be made to improve the national tourism innovation system, the tourism transformation and promotion system of excellent culture, the high standard market system of the tourism industry, the revitalization system of inbound tourism, and the system of realizing the ecological value of the tourism industry. (4) The construction of a modern tourism system should be aimed at high-quality development, anchored for new quality productive forces, integrated with culture and tourism, and positioned at strategic pillar industries. (5) The high-quality development of tourism needs to focus on the relationship between government and market, supply and demand, protection and development, domestic market and international market, development and security, eliminate the bottlenecks in tourism development, improve the synergy mechanism between the government and the market, optimize the quality of the supply and demand structure of the tourism industry, promote the all-round sustainable development of the tourism industry, and forge the inbound tourism to develop rapidly with a high quality.