China will receive 64 million tourists by 2010, ranking third in the world, according to Shao Qiwei, director of China National Tourism Administration.

He predicted China will rake in US$42.6 billion of foreign currency income by 2010, up eight percent year on year, ranking third in the world.

The number of domestic travelers will increase by a big margin, with domestic tourism income reaching 881 billion yuan. And 9.8 million people will be direct employees of the tourism industry.

Shao said tourism will also stimulate domestic demand, increase investment, and promote regional economic growth and urban construction. China will further promote tourism development, and increase tourism quality in the next five years.

(Xinhua News Agency August 19, 2005)