China's top tourism official vowed to further develop the nation's tourism industry so as to become one of the largest tourism destinations in the world.
Speaking at the opening day of the 2001 World Tourism Day Celebration in Ningbo on Thursday, Sun Gang, deputy director of the China National Tourism Administration (CNTA), said that tourism not only makes contributions to local economic and social development, but also plays an important role in encouraging non-governmental diplomacy and peaceful dialogue in international affairs.
"We will attract more overseas tourists in the new century to promote understanding between Chinese and people in other countries and regions," Sun said.
At the ceremony, Mike Sharrocks, a representative of the World Tourism Organization, praised the fast growth of China's tourism industry.
"By 2020, China will become the No 1 destination in the world, thanks to its great strategy, clear vision, drive and enthusiasm of the Chinese authorities responsible for the tourism sector," Sharrocks said.
According to CNTA sources, the number of overseas tourists coming to the Chinese mainland steadily increased from January 2001 to July 2001.
By the end of July, the number of tourists entering the mainland totalled 50.26 million, an increase of 5.9 per cent over the same period last year.
Of that amount, foreign tourists made up 6.24 million - an increase of 12.9 per cent.
World Tourism Day is held September 27 on every year. Initiated in 1979, it is an international festival for tourists and employees in the tourism industry.
This year's theme is: Tourism, a tool for peace and dialogue in the civilization of the world.
In the last 13 years, China celebrated World Tourism Day in municipalities and capital cities of provinces, such as Beijing, Shanghai, Nanjing and Chengdu.
The CNTA selected Ningbo, a coastal in East China's Zhejiang Province, as the country's celebration site in the first year of the new century because the city has made progress in developing local, natural and human tourism resources and improving its service in this industry, said Zhang Weiwen, Ningbo's mayor.
(People's Daily 09/29/2001)
