East China's Zhejiang Province, home to such renowned scenic spots as the West Lake, is expected to earn more than 126 billion yuan (US$15.6 billion) in tourism revenue in 2005, up 23.5 percent from 2004, the provincial tourism administration announced Tuesday.

 

The province has reported 3.4 million overseas visitors this year. They spent US$1.6 billion of foreign exchange, up 22 percent. Domestic visitors have reached 127 million and spent 123 billion yuan (US$15.4 billion), the administration said.

 

As a main industry in Zhejiang, tourism also contributes an estimated 2.9 million people jobs, according to the administration.

 

Zhejiang ranked fifth among provincial or autonomous areas on the Chinese mainland in terms of the number of overseas tourist arrivals and foreign exchange earnings in 2005, said Zhong Shan, vice governor of Zhejiang.

 

In 2005, Zhejiang launched a series of tourist activities during China's "golden week" holidays and held tourism promotions across the country and in some foreign countries to attract more visitors, according to the administration.

 

Zhejiang is famous for tourist attractions such as prestigious Qiandao Lake in western Zhejiang, picturesque West Lake and elegant Leifeng Pagoda located in its capital, Hangzhou.

 

(Xinhua News Agency December 28, 2005)