China is expected to become both the largest tourist market and tourist destination on earth in the near future, Beijing Youth Daily reported Tuesday.

More than 10 million Chinese went to other countries for sightseeing last year, since China opened more overseas flight routes. The number of outgoing visitors rose to 5.48 million in the first half of the year, up 10 percent over last year's same period.

The World Tourism Organization predicted that China is to be the world's largest tourist market by 2020.

Meanwhile, China has turned into one of the most attractive tourist destinations since it won the 2008 Olympic Games, hosted the APEC meetings and was admitted into the World Trade Organization.

China is now the fifth most popular tourist destination in the world and is to become the first in 15 years, according to the World Tourism Organization.

Backgrounder -- China's Tourism

Experts--Tourism Industry to Boom in China

As China integrates with the global economy, its tourism industry is expected to boom in the next five years.

West China--Boosts Tourism Featuring Ethnic Culture

The culture of ethnic groups has brought an increasing number of tourists to the vast western China, greatly benefiting local tourism.

World Tourism Organization--To Help Choose China's Best Tourism Cities

The World Tourism Organization and the China National Tourism Administration (CNTA) will jointly select China's Best Tourist Cities next year.

( People's Daily December 19, 2001)