China's domestic tourism thrived in the second half of 2003. Over the seven-day National Day vacation this year, domestic tourism revenue reached 34.6 billion yuan (US$4 billion), setting a record high for the past four years and demonstrating the rapid development of China's economy.

China's economy is continuing its rapid development, as spending on tourism, real estate, private cars, and telecommunication products has steadily increased.

Over the past 20 years, Asian tourists have joined the global travel trend, first Japanese, then those from the Republic of Korea. But as the Japanese economy slowed down, Japanese tourists sharply decreased. After the Asian financial crisis, the number of Korean travelers also dropped. By contrast, more Chinese people are visiting scenic spots in western Europe, said Wu Di, representative of the Italian State Tourist Board in China.

The first-direct flight from China to Maldives scheduled for the coming traditional Chinese Spring Festival is already fully booked, according Helen Cao, the Maldives Villa Group representative in Beijing.

"When my wallet is full, I will think of my next trip. But if I have little money, the first thing I will do is cancel my travel plans," said Lin Xiaoyan, a keen tourist.

Tourism can be viewed as a bellwether for the economy, said Richard Liu, chief representative of Canadian Tourism Commission in China. Individual travel plans were very sensitive to the macro-economy, he said.

The contribution of tourism to the economy included increasing foreign currency, creating job opportunities, promoting related industries and protecting the environment, said Wei Xiao'an, a tourism expert.

In the past few years, China's tourism industry maintained strong momentum. Last year, China ranked fifth in terms of international inbound travelers and international tourism revenue.

China's continuous tourism development surpassed expectations. The World Tourism Organization estimated China will become the biggest tourism destination by 2020, surpassing France, said WTO Secretary-General Francesco Frangialli.

(Xinhua News Agency December 31, 2003)