The tourism industry enjoyed robust growth in the first 10 months of this year, according to the National Tourism Administration.

China received 89.79 million tourists to the mainland in the period. That is over 20 percent up on 2003, when SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) had a large negative impact, but also 11 percent up on 2002.

Among them, 13.84 million were from overseas, up 53 percent year-on-year; 55.03 million were Hongkongers, up 15 percent; 17.83 million were from Macao, up 16 percent; and 3.08 million arrived from Taiwan, up 39 percent.

The top five countries providing the fastest growing numbers were India, Russia, South Korea, Australia and Singapore with growth rates of 45, 41, 32, 27 and 27 percent respectively.

The administration said foreign currency income from the sector was estimated at US$19.26 billion, which is up 37 percent and represents 14 percent in additional income over the same period in 2002.

And almost 50 percent of tourism exchange revenue came from overseas tourists, whilst 27 percent came from Hong Kong, 10 percent from Macao and 14 percent from Taiwan.

Inbound tourist arrivals set a record in 2002, when China ranked fifth in the world in terms of both overnight tourist arrivals and tourism income in foreign exchange.

In 2003 the outbreak of SARS in the spring resulted in a sharp reduction in visitors, with a total of 91.66 million, down 6 percent on the previous year.

"China's tourism is now in a good period," said Qi Shanhong, a professor of economics from Nankai University's Department of Tourism.

"Fragile as it seems to be, tourism has an ability to bounce back from disasters," Qi said. "That's because travel is a basic spiritual need, which has to be satisfied from time to time. The need to travel is always there. The recovery of China's tourism is just a normal reflection of this economic rule.

"Meanwhile, as a country enjoying fast economic growth and stability, China has an advantage in attracting international tourists, especially business travelers who want to come and understand China better," Qi said.

Qi indicated the upward trend will likely last. "I'm very optimistic about the future. Tourism is not only a source of national revenue but also a very important platform for cultural communication between the Chinese people and the rest of the world."

(China Daily November 23, 2004)