Since China initiated its reform and opening up policy in 1978, 1.239 billion tourists have entered China and a total of US$219 billion has been earned in foreign tourism revenue.

According to statistics from the China National Tourism Administration (CNTA), in the period from 1978 through 2005, the number of China's inbound tourists increased 66-fold from less than 2 million to 120 million per year.

Revenues from inbound tourism income leapt from US$263 million to US$29.3 billion per year, a 111-fold increase. That boils down to 17 percent annual growth in numbers and 19 percent annual growth in revenues, year in, year out over a period of 28 years.

In terms of the number of inbound travelers, China now ranks fourth in the world and sixth in terms of foreign currency income.

Developing inbound tourism is an important means of increasing China's foreign currency income and provides capital for China's economic construction.

The tourism industry can also enhance China's international position as well as promote exchanges and cooperation between China and other nations, said Gu Chaoxi, deputy director of CNTA.

(Xinhua News Agency July 22, 2006)