More people from at home and abroad flocked to north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in 2000.
Lu Ting, director of the regional tourism administration, said that 7.3 million Chinese visitors came to the region in 2000, an increase of 166 percent over the previous year.
The number of overseas travelers to the region was 390,000, bringing US$130 million in terms of tourism income.
Mysterious pastures, unique Mongolian tents and culture are the attractions to the visitors, said the director.
The region's total tourism income exceeded 4.2 billion yuan (US$506 million) in 2000, or 3 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP) for the same year.
According to a plan, the region is expected to achieve a tourism income of 7.7 million yuan (US$927,000) by 2005, or 4.5 percent of its GDP.
(People’s Daily 01/14/2001)
