The number of domestic tourists in China is expected to reach 810 million this year, with related revenue estimated at 380 billion yuan, a tourism official said Wednesday in Nanjing.

Sun Gang, deputy director of the China National Tourism Administration, said at a press conference for the China Domestic Travel Fair 2002 that the growth rate of the tourism industry thisyear will remain higher than that of the national economy as a whole.

Thanks to the efforts of governments at all level to develop the tourism industry, hundreds of thousands of qualified tourism programs have been promoted in recent years to cater to the increasing number of tourists.

China aims to set up a tourism guide management system and improve the services at scenic spots and of travel agencies, Sun added.

China's tourism industry has developed rapidly during the past few years. The number of domestic tourists rose from 410 million in 1993 to 784 million in 2001, and the annual revenue from 86.4 billion yuan to 352.2 billion yuan.

( People's Daily April 4, 2002)