The city will receive 2 million foreign tourists this year, 15 percent more than last year, tourism industry insiders predicted.

It was predicted exchange earnings would reach 1.96 billion U.S. dollars, 20 percent over a year earlier, Jiefang Daily reported yesterday.

Total earnings in the industry will hopefully exceed 100 billion Yuan (US$12 billion), increasing by about 12 percent.

The city has seen a flourishing business in the sector since early this year.

About 640,000 foreign tourists visited the city during the past four months, 21 percent more than the same period last year, the municipal Tourism Commission said.

The average hotel occupation rate reached 68 percent, 7 percent higher than that of last year.

The prices of star-level hotels rebound, as five-star ones increasing by 15 percent.

The city received more than 5.3 million domestic tourists during the two weeklong holidays - the Spring Festival and the Labor Day.

Officials said the Oriental TV Tower, the Jin Mao Tower, the Century Park and the Wild life Park have attracted the largest group of tourist from home and aboard.

(Eastday.com.cn 06/06/2001)