China to woo Indian tourists in 2003

China will woo more foreign tourists, including Indians in 2003 and earn a record $21.5 billion, a senior industry official has said.

China will further promote inbound tourism in 2003, seeking tourists especially from the United States, Germany and India, Chairman of the China National Tourism Administration, He Guangwei said at CNTA's three-day annual meeting in east China's Hangzhou city on Wednesday.

He visited India in December last year and signed a major bilateral tourism agreement with India, which would allow Chinese tourists to visit India in groups.

He said China's income from tourism is predicted to reach an all-time high of $75 billion in 2003, up 8.5 per cent from 2002. The goal for 2003 is to receive 100 million inbound tourists, including 14 million foreigners, he said.

Foreign tourism income is expected to reach $21.5 billion. Domestic travelers will reach 900 million, with domestic tourism generating income of $53 billion.

China will also boost tourism cooperation with developed countries to strengthen friendly relations with them.

The 15th meeting of the World Tourism Organisation will be held for the first time in China from October 17 to 24 this year, the CNTA chairman said.

United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan, over 70 government ministers and 1,000 industry representatives will attend the WTO meeting. The meeting would provide a good opportunity for China to show its latest tourism achievements, he said.   

The theme for 2003 tourism is 'Cuisine Travel'. Different areas of China will explore typical tourism products under this theme.

Meanwhile, China's total income from tourism in 2002 reached $70 billion in 2002, up 10.7 per cent compared to 2001. China received 98 million inbound tourists, up 10.1 per cent compared with the previous year. Some 13.75 million foreigners came to China last year, up 22 per cent.

Earnings from foreign tourism surpassed $20 billion for the first time, up 14.6 per cent on the previous year. While China's domestic tourists numbered 870 million in 2002, up 11 per cent from the previous year, the domestic tourism income reached $48 billion, up 9.2 per cent.

According to CNTA figures, Japan, South Korea, Russia and the US were the four biggest sources of tourists to China, with more than one million visitors from each last year.