The global financial crisis has ended the boom in China-bound tourism with the market falling this year, state tourism authorities said yesterday in Shanghai.

Zhu Shanzhong, director of the National Tourism Administration of China's tourism promotion and international liaison department, said next year was also expected to be difficult.

"We are closely watching the market's trend and will take measures," Zhu said.

The China-bound tourism market rose to the end of last year, attracting revenue of US$15 billion, a new record, the bureau said.

Compared with the drop in China-bound tourism, the out-bound market rose this year to September. More than 34 million people traveled abroad up to September, up 14.8 percent on last year, the bureau said.

(Shanghai Daily November 20, 2008)