Tourism Revenue Soars in Northwestern Provincial CapitalXi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, registered a continued jump in travel revenue, reaching 5.4 billion yuan (651 million US dollars) for the first half of this year.According to official statistics, 226,000 overseas tourists visited the city in the first six months, 28 percent more than the same period last year, and the number of domestic tourists was 7. 74 million. Business travel reported the most rapid increase rate of 40 percent, according to a local tourism official. The official attributed the tourist boom to heated tourism market in holidays, the country's development strategy in west areas and growing consumption demand of domestic tourists. Meanwhile, the city has exerted great efforts to promote the tourism market and enhance interprovincial cooperation in the tourism sector. Last year, the city's tourism revenues hit 8.3 billion yuan ( one billion US dollars), accounting for 14 percent of its GDP of the year, the official said, adding that this has made tourism one of the pillar industries of the city. |
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