Gu Zhao-xi, vice-chairman of the National Tourism Administration (NTA), delivered a keynote speech on China's tourism industry at today's "Windows on China" symposium of the 54th Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Annual Conference.

According to the conference, China has become the fastest growing and most dynamic travel destination in the world. After suffering heavy losses from the SARS outbreak of 2003, China's tourism industry has witnessed all-round rejuvenation. In 2004, China received 109 million visitors from overseas, 60 times that of 1978, and earned 25.7 billion USD in foreign exchange. Recently, TTG Asia cited China as the 2004 best travel destination in the world.

China has the largest domestic tourism market in the world. In 2004, the number of domestic tourists reached 1.1 billion, and domestic tourism revenue totaled 56.7 billion USD, accounting for 67% of China's gross tourism revenue. The success of domestic tourism has become a powerful incentive stimulating domestic demand, expanding consumption, and bringing about the development of relevant industries.

China has also become a rising source for the world tourism sector. China officially started out-bound tourism in 1997, and the travel destinations included only Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, Hong Kong and Macau. In that year alone, 5.32 million Chinese traveled abroad. By Apr. 1, 2005, 64 countries and regions around the world have opened to Chinese tourists.

The Beijing 2008 Olympic Games is a rare opportunity for the Chinese tourism industry. In 2005, the NTA will continue to organize dissemination of information on "Olympics and tourism" in an effort to advocate the Olympic Games through tourism and stimulate the tourism industry.

(Chinanews.cn April 20, 2005)