China will step up the development of its tourism industry this year in an effort to achieve an annual growth rate of 12 percent.

He Guangwei, director of the National Tourism Administration, disclosed this year's targeted tourism income of 450 billion yuan at a national tourism conference in the southern boomtown of Shenzhen today.

China is expected to accommodate 29 million overseas tourists this year to earn 15 billion US dollars in foreign exchange. Thenumber of domestic tourists will amount to 740 million with incometargeted at 330 billion yuan (about 40 billion US dollars).

He called on the tourism industry to devote itself to this year's travel program "China Millennium" by making the best use of 23 famous tourist resorts across China, which have been listed as world heritage.

China will also take an active part in the international tourism market. The authorities will put much emphasis on the International Travel Mart in Shanghai this October and the annual conference of the Asian Association of Convention and Visitors Bureau, while helping Hong Kong host the annual conference of the Pacific-Asia Travel Association (PATA).