The Chinese outbound tour has seen a striking increase ever since it was kicked off in 1990 and especially during the period from 1997 to 2000 the annual increase rate of outbound tourists reached 30 percent. The statistics showed that last year the outbound tourists from China came to a total of 12.13 million person/times.

At present China has decided to take in 22 countries and regions as its tourist destination in the world.

Judging from the materials of some foreign organizations the expense on consumption by Chinese tourists abroad is higher than the average in the destination market. As it is stated in the newly published "China Tourism Green Paper" the expense of every Chinese tourist in Australia averages US$ 3,000 each time and that in the US is US$ 5,500 every person/time. According to a rough estimation every year will see Chinese tourists spend abroad a minimum of over 20 billion in US dollars.

( People's Daily February 10, 2002)