By the end of 2000, more than 300 tourism websites had been registered in China, according to the latest statistics from the China National Tourism Administration (CNTA).

Nearly all the Internet Content Providers (ICPs) open websites of big travel agencies.

Via the pioneer on-line travel agency in southern Chinese city Guangzhou, people can easily finish all the tourism application procedures including making payments. This marks a new development in the traditional consulting and booking service of tourism websites.

At the beginning of this year, CNTA launched the "Golden Tourism Project", aiming to promote e-commerce in the country.

In the competitive tourism market, on-line tourist business enables people to spend less time, but see more scenic spots and walk shorter distances while visiting more places.

Some 90 percent of tourists come from households and individuals. The Internet will provide individualized services for different people, while the convenience to visitors offers great potential in tourism, according to authority.

"The momentum of the on-line tourism market poses a great threat to traditional travel agencies," commented a senior official with CNTA.

Before the week-long vacations of the Spring Festival, May Day and National Day, some ten thousand people clicked on these websites every day.

"I checked information on tourist spots and chose my destination this year, and I also booked my hotel in southern China," said Mr. Liu of Beijing University.

During an International Tourism Seminar last year, the World Tourism Organization encouraged agencies to make full use of the advantages of the Internet and promote the e-commerce market.

It is reported that tourism websites account for 20 percent of the worlds most successful websites. Over 17 million Americans make their travel plans on line, up 140 percent on that of 1998.

Experts estimate that the total sales revenue worldwide will increase from 4.2 billion US dollars last year to 16.6 billion US dollars in 2003.

(People's Daily 02/12/01)