Foreign Exchange Earnings From Tourism Exceed US$5.1 Billion

Latest statistics from National Tourism Administration show that China's foreign-exchange earnings from tourism exceeded US$5.1 billion in the first four months this year, an increase of 18.7 percent over the same period last year.

The number of tourists to China this year maintains a good momentum of growth. In the first four months, the number reached nearly 26.65 million on turnstile count, up 15.79 percent over the same period last year. The number of foreign tourists and visitors from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan all reached two digits, the number of foreign travelers to China surged by 23.35 percent.

Judged from the 15 main tourist source markets, with the exception of tourists from Britain and Canada which grew less than 10 percent, those from other 13 countries all saw a two digital increase. Tourists from Russia, Indonesia and South Korea increased in number by more than 40 percent.

People's Daily Online --- http://www.peopledaily.com.cn/english/