The National Tourism Administration has observed a robust growth of inbound travelers in the first six months of 2005. The nearly 58.31 million visits during the period in China, which was 13.38 percent up from the same period of last year, brought tourism earnings in terms of forex estimated at 14.22 billion USD, jumping 21.41 percent year on year.

The number of travelers from each continents increased significantly over the six months. The 16 top markets all had a two-digit rose. Since May, South Korean tourists have outnumbered Japanese tourists, making South Korea the largest source of travelers to China. Japan lost its status as the largest source of travelers to China for the first time over the years due to the continuous decline in the number of Japanese travelers.

In the inbound traveling, more than 9.62 million visits were made by foreigners, up 28.78 percent, of which more than 33.91 million were by Hong Kong people, an increase of 5.58 percent, and more than 12.75 million by Macao visitors, rising 25.88 percent and more than 2 million by Taiwan compatriots, jumping 18.65 percent.

Travelers who stayed at least a night in China spent 12.832 billion USD which accounted for 90.23 percent of the country��s total tourism earnings in terms of forex. Those who only stayed daytime in China spent 1.389 billion USD, 9.77 percent of the total.

By People's Daily Online