The Chinese mainland expects 90 million tourist arrivals this year, the director of the China National Tourism Administration (CNTA) said yesterday.

He Guangwei said tourism is expected to bring in US$18.5 billion this year. The overall revenue from domestic and overseas tourists will be 535 billion yuan (US$64 billion), 8 percent above last year's figure.

He said 85 percent of arrivals will come from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan.

He said his administration would enhance the network management of travel agencies this year, particularly during the holidays around Spring Festival on February 12, May Day and October 1 National Day.

The director said China would this year target potential tourists in neighbouring countries with a promotion campaign.

"This year marks the 30th year of the normalization of Sino-Japanese relations. The CNTA and the Japanese tourism administration will jointly carry out the promotion," said He. He's organization will organize a tourism friendship exchange group to visit different regions of Japan this May.

In addition, delegations from both sides will gather in Beijing to plant friendship trees at the foot of the Great Wall.

Vice-Premier Qian Qichen said yesterday China will speed up the opening of its travel service industry now that it is a member of the World Trade Organization.

Qian said China will let big-name international travel agencies enter the country to learn from their management and expertise.

At the same time, China will hone its existing approval system to stop the entrance of unscrupulous small travel agencies that could disturb the domestic market order, Qian said.

( China Daily January 09, 2002)