The 10 most important tourist industry events in 2004 have been selected by several leading Chinese Web sites:

1. China’s largest tourism group was founded Nov. 10 after China International Travel Service merged with China Duty Free Group. The new company is called China International Travel Group.

2. China Travel Service Group merged with China Travel Commerce and Trade Service Corporation to create a new China Travel Service Group as one of the country’s largest tourism enterprises.

3. The four-day China International Travel Fair was held in Shanghai in November.

4. Shanghai overtook Beijing as the Chinese city that received most foreign visitors.

5. The number of countries that are open to mainland visitors increased to nearly 80.

6. A new type of travel contract was launched, which gives travelers more rights to complain and ask for compensation.

7. On Feb. 13, the World Tourism and Travel Council issued a report that in the next decade China’s tourism will increase by 10.4 percent each year and China will become the world’s fourth-largest tourist destination.

8. With the publishing of China’s administrative approval law aimed at regulating governance, the state tourism bureau gave up some powers to the province-level tourism authorities.

9. There were more travelers and more spending during the weeklong holidays — Chinese New Year, May Day and National Day — than ever before.

10.The State authorities led a crackdown on illegal day tour organizers.

(Shenzhen Daily January 5, 2005)