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Shanghai in Tourist Class of Its Own
Foreign countries will once again compete to promote themselves and attract more tourists from Shanghai during the city's 11th Tourism Festival this autumn, Wednesday's Chinadaily said.
Thailand, Malaysia, Viet Nam and Japan will send floats decorated with flowers and replicas of their best scenic spots to the festival which will take place between October 14 and November 12.
Zhou Muyao, vice-mayor and director of Shanghai Municipal Tourism Administrative Commission, said the annual tourism festival has become a competing ground for many foreign countries.
In just a few years, overseas destinations for Shanghai tourists have expanded from Hong Kong, Macao and several southeast Asian countries to include the Republic of Korea and New Zealand.
In September Japan will also become a destination for Chinese tourists. To attract them, Japan will send several live performance bands and a colorful float to the festival in Shanghai.
Akihiro Doiguchi, chief representative in Shanghai of Japan's Nagasaki Prefecture, said, "We see the tourism festival as a good chance to promote our image and attract local tourists."
In 1999, revenue from tourism accounted for 4.9 percent of Shanghai's total GDP.
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