The southernmost China's land province of Hainan will spend more than 30 billion yuan (about US$ 3.62 billion) for development of the tourism industry in the next few years.

In accordance with the provincial tourism development plan for the tenth five-year-plan period (2001-2005), the investment will mainly be spent on the construction of 144 new tourism projects.

Sources at the provincial government said that they would also seek opinions from specialists at the Madrid-based World Tourism Organization for drawing up an overall tourism development plan.

In addition to tropical agriculture, tourism is another major money-making business for Hainan, which is considered to have the most beautiful beaches and best-quality offshore water in China.

( Xinhua News Agency November 24, 2001)