Nearly 12.12 million foreigners came to the Chinese mainland for sightseeing from January to June, up 18.47 percent year-on-year, according to the latest figures from the China National Tourism Administration (CNTA).

The growth rate more than tripled the 6.1-percent increase for all inbound tourists to the Chinese mainland, who added up to 63.37 million in the first half of the year.

It also overtook the 4.22-percent rise for tourists from Hong Kong, 0.56-percent rise for tourists from Macao and 8.84-percent rise for tourists from Taiwan.

CNTA figures revealed that foreign tourists came mainly from 16 countries, with tourists from the Republic of Korea registering the rapid growth of 30.62 percent, followed by India 16.48 percent, and Russia, 15.73 percent.

Philippines, Canada, France, Australia, Indonesia, Singapore, Germany, Malaysia, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States registered a growth of over ten percent in the number of tourists to China.

Tourism generated nearly US$17.94 billion in foreign currency in the first six months, up 13.1 percent year-on-year. More than half or US$10.25 billion came from foreign tourists, up 19.64 percent over the same period of last year.
 
(Xinhua News Agency August 5, 2007)