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China will become the world's biggest inbound tourism nation by 2019, one year earlier than the World Tourism Organisation forecast, a senior official has predicted.
"China's inbound visitors will grow by 8 per cent in next five years and foreign currency income will increase at an annual rate of 12 per cent. Thus, China will receive some 137 million inbound travellers by 2019," Director General of China National Tourism Administration Shao Qiwei said.
China's tourism will enjoy more favourable conditions for development in next five years, including the growth of national economy, information technology and infrastructure improvement, he acknowledged, adding that the Beijing Olympics and Shanghai World Expo will provide more opportunities for tourism.
As the largest tourism source nation in Asia, China would see 34 million Chinese people travelling overseas this year.
"Over 31 million Chinese people travelled overseas last year and this year will see a 10 per cent growth," Shao said.
He predicted that the number of inbound travellers for this year will reach 130 million, up to 8 per cent over last year.
The international tourism income will climb to $33.6 billion, he said.
Shao added that China will enhance tourism cooperation and exchanges with other nations, including Russia, United States, Japan, South Korea and many European nations, this year.
Meanwhile, China has so far utilised more than $93 billion in foreign capital.
Shao said all of the world's top ten hotel groups invested in China and the top ten travel agencies have all established joint venture companies in China.
China will promote a policy of further 'opening to the world' in the tourism industry in the next five years by introducing advanced tourism management systems and enhancing foreign capital utilisation, Shao said, and the country will also encourage its qualified tourism companies to invest overseas.