China third biggest int'l tourism spender: official (2)

First held in 2001, the CITM has grown to be the largest professional travel mart in Asia as China's economy keeps advancing, said Li. As an annual event, it is held in Shanghai and Kunming city in southwest China's Yunnan Province alternately.

There are 104 countries and regions participating in this Mart. The display space of the CITM has been extended to approximately 57,500 square meters in a bid to meet the growing demand of exhibitors.

There are more international booths this year than before, and the ratio of domestic booths to international ones has been balanced, with 1,582 domestic booths and 932 international booths in this Mart.

Dubbing tourism the No.1 industry worldwide, Li noted that its development could help boost growth amid the global economic downturn.

The CITM serves as an effective platform for international tourism cooperation, Li added.

We recommend:
A Decade of Fastest Development	Eastern Boom Lightens Western Gloom	Oct. data released, inflation slows
Gold collection issued to mark 'Year of Snake'	China: A Fast-growing Force in IPR	13th Int'l Automobile Industry Exhibition
China Int'l Industry Fair opens in Shanghai	Caofeidian coal wharf put into use	Canton Fair wraps up on Sunday