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International Travel Agencies Eyeing Chinese Markets
With China's growing economic strength and gradual opening of the domestic tourism market, many foreign travel agencies have cast their eyes on China.
As is known from the ongoing "2001 Guangzhou International Tourism Fair", of the total 400 exhibition stands over 100 were occupied by foreign travel services from more than 20 countries and regions of Europe, Oceania and Asia. Besides routine promotion of their scenic spots they have apparently shifted their attention to direct investment invitation and business talks. They have realized the huge potential of overseas tourism in China, especially in Guangdong which is located near Hong Kong and Macao and therefore can be regarded as a window to acquire tourism information. The fair is also looked upon as a channel for foreigners to get a deeper understanding of tourism markets of Guangzhou, south China and the country as a whole.
Statistics tell that last year the number of people touring overseas reached approximately 1.2m for Guangdong Province, half of the nation's total, of which 330,000 were from Guangzhou.
By 2005 China will become Asia's biggest tourism market for Australia with Guangdong Province remaining at the core, according to predictions made by the Tourism Bureau of Australia. With the gradual opening of the tourism market, by 2020 China will become the fourth visitor source country to Europe, says general manager of Flying Travel Service, the biggest China-Europe touring organizer.
Last year China was a visitor source country for Germany next only to the United States and Japan outside Europe, says manager of Asian Department of German Tourism Bureau. He adds that with China's impending WTO membership Germany is actively talking with China on private trips, and there would definitely be a great leap in the number of Chinese touring Germany.
By PD Online Staff Li Heng
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