China's fast growing skiing market has aroused world's attention in recent years, said French tourism operators in Beijing on Tuesday.

About 2 million Chinese people participated in skiing last year, and the number is expected to rise 20 percent to 30 percent this year. Some Chinese tourists even chose to ski in Japan, the Republic of Korea, Switzerland and France.

Alps in France is taken as a heaven for skiers. Due to the height, the skiing season is longer than other areas. "We expect Chinese tourists from December to April," said Adrien Duvillard, director general of Megeve Tourism of France.

Chinese tourists can also enroll in French skiing school. Trainers there are experienced and skillful to help learners enjoy the sport quickly, said Jean Marie Choffel, director of Meribel Tourism.

"Since Chinese tourists were allowed to visit Europe last year, we found more and more Chinese skiers in winter," said Jean-Louis Leger-Mattei, director of Alpe d'huez Tourism.

(Xinhua News Agency September 28, 2005)