Travelers from Japan were the most-frequent visitors, accounting for some 29 percent, followed by South Korea at 9 percent and the United States at 8 percent, it added.

Statistics show that the number of tourists from the three major source countries skyrocketed by 45 percent over last year, while tourist arrivals from New Zealand, Canada, Singapore, Thailand, Russia and Australia increased by 35 percent or more this year.

"The city's emergence as a key international business center contributed largely to the increasing number of travelers," explained Yao Mingbao, director of the commission, adding that "more than half the overseas tourists came here on business."

Fifty-nine percent of this year's foreign tourists are estimated to have visited Shanghai for commercial purposes, Yao revealed.

Commission officials said the percentage of incoming travelers to Shanghai has been steadily increasing over the past three years. The city received 2.04 million overseas tourists and 82.5 million domestic tourists last year, raking in tourism revenues of US$1.8 billion and 80.6 billion yuan (US$9.7 billion) respectively.

The commission will adopt various measures to ensure that Shanghai remains a safe destination for tourists and promote the city's image abroad in a bid to lure more foreign travelers.

For instance, a Website especially for visitors coming for international con-ferences and expositions will be launched next year.

Besides, the commission plans to cooperate with inland provinces and autonomous regions that border foreign countries to attract more tourists from those countries, which include India, Vietnam, Russia and Myanmar.

(eastday.com December 4, 2002)