The popularity of recreational activities such as sightseeing and water sports is spreading among Chinese urbanites, long famed for cocooning at home after getting off work. Harsh Varma, a senior official with the World Tourism Organization, made the statement at an international forum on China's recreational economy which opened Tuesday in Hangzhou.
With the country's economic development and an improving standard of living, more and more Chinese people are opting for recreational outings and entertainment activities in their spare time, the official said. Sun Gang, deputy director of the State Tourism Administration, said that China's tourism industry has flourished in recent years.Last year, more than 10 million Chinese people traveled abroad.
By the year 2020, China will become the world's fourth-largest tourism market, Sun said. Over the past decade, the country has worked to develop a recreational economy featuring tourism, entertainment, health care,sports and cultural events. With a total of 114 days of legal holidays per year, including weekends, Chinese employees have plenty of time to enjoy themselves while off work. Sun said the recreational economy should be further developed by improving tourism facilities and providing a wide range of tourism options.
(People's Daily November 15, 2001)
