eTN China, 28-11-2006
After posting record-breaking figures in terms of tourist numbers and revenues last year, China is eyeing an explosive growth from the tourism in the years to come.
China is to earn US$156.5 billion from tourism in 2010, according to Liu Kezhi, head of the Tourism Promotion and International Contact Department, China National Tourism Administration (CNTA).
Liu says the number of foreign tourists who will spend at least one night in China is expected to jump to 68.8 million in 2010, when domestic tourists are expected to take 1.78 billion overnight trips.
The Chinese government has formulated the Eleventh Five-Year Program for Tourism Industry (2006-2010). The program aims to make China a strong tourist nation in the world.
China is counting on the forthcoming 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing and the 2010 World Exposition in Shanghai to provide unprecedented opportunities for the development of Chinese tourism industry.
