The China National Tourism Administration has announced a number of measures to revive the confidence of the domestic tourism market and develop the tourism economy.

Data published by the CNTA indicates that in 2008 the number of inbound tourists in China decreased markedly. From January to September, the number of inbound tourists in China decreased by 3.53% year-on-year.

In the second half of 2008, Jiangsu has seen 15 hotel projects, with a planned investment of more than 4 billion yuan, either cancelled or postponed.

CNTA will promote a series of major tourism construction projects and will offer more support to Tibet and Qinghai for construction of their tourism infrastructure. Some areas including Guangdong and Zhejiang are to promote national tourism and leisure plans to encourage the development of the domestic tourism sector.

The administration will further implement the global tourism promotion of the 2010 Shanghai World Expo, and will enhance promotion in major overseas source markets — taking the short-haul markets as a priority and focusing on keeping the traditional markets in Europe and America.

CNTA is to refund 1.8 billion yuan in travel quality deposits to travel agencies around China to help them increase their current operating capital.

(China Hospitality News December 16, 2008)