A 10-day international tourism festival which was opened in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region Thursday is expected to attract more overseas visitors.

The tourism gala, entitled 2002 China Ningxia Deserts and Yellow River International Tourism Festival, is co-sponsored by the State Tourism Administration and the regional government.

Shapotou Tourist Zone is the main venue for the festive gathering but there are five secondary venues across the autonomous region.

Shapotou has been named one of the Top 500 places for carrying out environmental protection by the United Nations. The recognition came from its success in combating desertification and land erosion.

The festival, now in its third year, was first launched in 2000 and has made a big contribution to the Muslim-dominated region in drawing in investors and visitors.

Last year the number of overseas tourist arrivals grew by 25 percent and the total income rose by 18 percent over the same period of the previous year. Experts forecast a higher revenue for the local tourism industry this year.

(Xinhua News Agency July 20, 2002)